(WASHINGTON, DC) – The following is a summary of an interview with Brig. Gen. Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri, advisor in the Office of the Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, on the latest developments in Yemen. This interview was conducted on Al-Arabiya and can be viewed here.
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Houthi militias today launched a mortar attack and Katyusha rockets along the Kingdom’s southern border, hitting schools and a hospital near the city of Najran.
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Brig. Gen. Asiri stated that the attacks led to some causalities inside the hospital. The Ministry of Defense plans to issue a statement detailing the number and cause of any civilian causalities.
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Yesterday, Saudi Arabia and its allies announced intentions to halt military operations in order to better facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Houthis did not recognize this ceasefire.
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Brig. Gen. Asiri reassured the citizens of Saudi Arabia, both in Najran and throughout the Kingdom, that the current situation is under control and that the Saudi Land Forces and Border Guard are on guard and ready to retaliate against the source of any attack.
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The Saudi Air Force is continuing to maintain security at the Saudi-Yemen border, while also facilitating humanitarian relief to Yemeni citizens in need. The coalition fully expects the Houthis to continue to attack the border and plans to respond resolutely.
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The Houthi militias are taking advantage of the mountainous terrain along the Saudi-Yemeni border to hide from the Saudi Border Guard and Air Force.
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Saudi Arabia and its allies will employ any measure appropriate to guarantee the safety and security of its borders.