Saudis Battle Yemeni Shiite Rebels

Saudi jet fighters pounded positions of Yemeni Shiite rebels for a fifth day straight.

"Saudi military aircrafts have been carrying out intensified strikes on Al-Houthi rebels' bases in Saada and Al-Malahiz cities in northern Yemen since 2:00 AM local time (11:00 PM GMT)," Saudi Jazan newspaper said on its website Saturday, November 7.

Aircraft and artillery also pounded rebel positions on Jebel al-Dukhan, a 2,000-metre (6,600-foot) peak on borders, with air strikes and mortar fire overnight.

A number of Shiite rebels were reportedly killed in the Saudi attacks.

Clashes were also reported between Saudi troops and Yemeni rebels in the southern province of Ohod and Al-Aghader border city.

Some 40 Yemeni rebels surrendered to Saudi forces, the paper said, citing witnesses.

Saudi sources said over 123 rebels have so far surrendered and handed in their weapons to Saudi forces.

Saudi Arabia, the birth place of Islam, on Friday vowed to protect its territories and crush Yemeni “infiltrators”.

"The entry of the gunmen to Saudi territory, the aggression against border patrols...and presence on Saudi soil is a violation of sovereignty that gives the kingdom every right to take all measures to end this illegitimate presence," an official source was quoted as saying by Saudi News Agency (SPA).

"The operations will continue until all sites within Saudi territory are cleansed of any hostile element."

Riyadh was dragged into the long-running conflict between Shiite Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government on Wednesday after a Saudi border guard was killed and 11 others were injured an attack blamed on the Yemeni rebels. 

The rebels have previously accused Saudi Arabia of backing Yemen's armed forces in the conflict, a claim denies by Sanaa.

Capture

But Shiite rebels said that they confronted the Saudi attacks and captured several soldiers.

"With Allah's help, the Saudi tyrannical advance into Yemen's territory has been defeated," the rebels said on their website.

"A number of its troops have been captured and several military vehicles and supplies been seized."

According to the Saudi paper Jazan, six Saudi border guards and their two hummer vehicles were missing.

The Houthi rebels urged Riyadh to end their “aggression” and stop Yemeni forces from using bases inside Saudi territory to attack them.

Yemen's army launched a deadly offensive against the Houthis in August to crush their rebellion.

Yemeni officials say the rebels have been fighting to restore the Zaidi imamate, which was overthrown in a 1962 republican coup in Yemen.

The rebels, known as Houthis, say they are defending their villages against what they call government aggression.

One of the poorest countries outside of Africa, Yemen has been struggling with several conflicts in addition to its significant economic challenges.