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9 November 2009
The infiltration and abuses last week have resulted in the death of one member of the kingdom’s security forces and the injury of a number of others.
In a statement, Sheikh Dr Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, speaker of the Shoura Council, said that he had full confidence in the ability of the security forces of Saudi Arabia, under the prudent leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, to protect its territory, secure its borders and deter the aggressors.
Al Sheikh paid tribute to the security personnel who have been guarding the borders and sacrificing their lives for the sake of their homeland.
Meanwhile, addressing members of the armed forces and special security forces in Al Khoba, Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defence and aviation, said the kingdom is fully capable of defending its land, securing its borders and repelling intruders.
“It is our duty to deal with this rash and irresponsible action and put an end to this tragedy,” he remarked.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia is established on the principles of Shariah, justice, and noninterference in the internal affairs of other nations.
“At the same time we will not let anyone interfere in our matters,” he said, and added: “Our soldiers have taught the evil aggressors a lesson they will never forget. They have fought well and outsmarted the enemy using the latest military techniques, which the brazen rebels did not expect.”
Prince Khaled said five Saudi soldiers went missing and one of them later returned. Search for the remaining was under way.
In a related development, Health Minister Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah flew to the region on Saturday to visit injured soldiers and civilians in the intensive care wards at hospitals in Samitah and Jizan. Al Rabeeah conveyed the gratitude of King Abdullah to the injured. “A state of medical emergency has been declared in the region and a blood-donation campaign is under way.
The Jizan Health Department has been supplied with 30 ambulances to cope with any emergency,” said Jibril Al Qubbi, spokesman for the health directorate in Jizan. He added that there is no shortage of medications, medical accessories and staff.
“The health minister is satisfied with the level of service in the hospitals in the region,” said Khalid Al Mirghalani, spokesman for the ministry of health.
Curfew is still imposed on the Khubah and Harth areas despite driving the rebels out of the mountainous areas. Elsewhere in the Jizan region near the border, life is gathering momentum. A school principal Abdo Alawani said the Quful school complex reopened on Saturday after it was closed down on Wednesday following the raid by Huthi infiltrators. He added that the presence of Saudi armed forces was reassuring for both students and teachers.
