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Saudi forces 'oust Yemeni rebels' | Saudi forces 'oust Yemeni rebels' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Saudi troops have regained control of a border village occupied by Yemeni Shia rebels since November, the kingdom's deputy defence minister has said. | Saudi troops have regained control of a border village occupied by Yemeni Shia rebels since November, the kingdom's deputy defence minister has said. |
Prince Khaled bin Sultan told state TV that four Saudi soldiers and "hundreds" of rebels were killed in the clashes. | Prince Khaled bin Sultan told state TV that four Saudi soldiers and "hundreds" of rebels were killed in the clashes. |
He said the overall death toll of Saudi soldiers in the border conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels now stood at 82. | He said the overall death toll of Saudi soldiers in the border conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels now stood at 82. |
Riyadh began operations against the rebels in November after a Saudi soldier was killed along the border. | Riyadh began operations against the rebels in November after a Saudi soldier was killed along the border. |
Regional threat | Regional threat |
Prince Khaled bin Sultan said Yemeni rebels had "inflicted upon themselves hundreds of deaths" in the border village of al-Jabiri after ignoring a 48-hour deadline to quit their positions, the Reuters news agency reports. | Prince Khaled bin Sultan said Yemeni rebels had "inflicted upon themselves hundreds of deaths" in the border village of al-Jabiri after ignoring a 48-hour deadline to quit their positions, the Reuters news agency reports. |
Security Correspondent Frank Gardner explains the conflict in the border area | |
"The infiltrators have been eliminated from al-Jabiri and the whole district has been taken under control," he told state-owned al-Ekhbariya television, adding that 21 Saudi soldiers were missing. | "The infiltrators have been eliminated from al-Jabiri and the whole district has been taken under control," he told state-owned al-Ekhbariya television, adding that 21 Saudi soldiers were missing. |
The rebels have repeatedly accused Saudi forces of targeting their villages and killing civilians, but Riyadh says its military operations have been confined to Saudi territory. | The rebels have repeatedly accused Saudi forces of targeting their villages and killing civilians, but Riyadh says its military operations have been confined to Saudi territory. |
While the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis began recently, fighting between the rebels from the minority Shia Zaidi sect and the Yemeni government has occurred sporadically since 2004. | While the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis began recently, fighting between the rebels from the minority Shia Zaidi sect and the Yemeni government has occurred sporadically since 2004. |
The rebels accuse the government of social, economic and religious marginalisation. | The rebels accuse the government of social, economic and religious marginalisation. |
Also on Tuesday, Yemen's interior ministry said Yemeni forces killed at least 19 rebels in the northern city of Saada and arrested another 20. | Also on Tuesday, Yemen's interior ministry said Yemeni forces killed at least 19 rebels in the northern city of Saada and arrested another 20. |
According to the latest UN figures, an estimated 200,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. | According to the latest UN figures, an estimated 200,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. |
Alongside the fighting in the north and a secessionist movement in the south, Western policymakers believe al-Qaeda is gaining a foothold in Yemen. | Alongside the fighting in the north and a secessionist movement in the south, Western policymakers believe al-Qaeda is gaining a foothold in Yemen. |
Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said instability in Yemen was a global as well as regional threat. | Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said instability in Yemen was a global as well as regional threat. |