Saudi soldier killed in Houthi raid

04/11/2009| IslamWeb

One Saudi soldier has been killed and 11 others injured in an attack by armed infiltrators from Yemen, Saudi Arabia's SPA state news agency has reported.

The SPA said on Wednesday that the attack took place in the mountainous border region of Jabal al-Dukhan, near an area where Yemen's army has been battling Houthi rebel fighters from the Zaidi sect.

"Armed men infiltrated at Jabal al-Dukhan... and opened fire on the border patrol with weapons of different caliber," SPA reported citing an unidentified government spokesman.

The Houthi fighters in a statement on their website said they seized the territory inside Saudi Arabia where the battle took place.

"Complete control has been taken yesterday evening of Jabal al-Dukhan ... after attacks during which the aggressor was eliminated," the fighters said.

The Houthis accused Riyadh of permitting Yemeni government troops to launch attacks against them from a Saudi security installation in Jabal al-Dukhan.

Rebellion

The conflict between the Houthi fighters and the Yemeni government began in 2004, but intensified last August when fighters stepped up the pressure on government forces.

Sanaa has vowed to crush the Houthis and launched a military offensive against them codenamed Operation Scorched Earth.

PHOTO CAPTION

File picture shows Saudi special forces during a parade.

Al-Jazeera