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Riyadh repels Houthi attack on its border with Yemen

May 1, 2015 at 4:18 pm

Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that it killed dozens of Houthi rebels coming from Yemen after repelling the first large-scale attack launched against the kingdom by the Houthis since they were targeted by the Saudi-led airstrikes.

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency: “In a qualitative operation, the ground forces repelled an attack launched by Houthi militias and supporting battalions rebelling against legitimacy, on our southern borders in Najran.”

The statement noted that “these groups targeted Saudi border posts and control points, and the ground forces clashed with the groups in direct and indirect gunfights. Our brave forces were successful in repelling the hostile forces.”

According to the statement, “direct airstrikes were carried out by the Air Force against the groups, leading to the destruction and malfunction of their equipment.”

The statement also confirmed “the death of dozens of militiamen, while three ground forces soldiers were martyred during the attack.”

The Saudi Ministry of Defence also said that the Houthi rebels received support from forces that remain loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down in 2012.