JEDDAH (Arab News) — Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defense, announced that 75 Ethiopians and 70 Somalis were caught during military operations along the country’s southern borders.
He did not provide details about where and when the Ethiopians and Somalis were arrested but said they would be interrogated and added that the Kingdom deals with prisoners of war according to Islamic teachings.
Prince Khaled ibn Sultan also cast doubts on the veracity of news reports on several Yemeni websites that six wounded Saudi soldiers are currently undergoing medical treatment in Yemen.
“These reports are not confirmed. I do not think they are correct. We only consider authentic reports. The only true thing so far is that nine Saudi military men are missing. We have announced them by name and we cannot say where they are now,” he told reporters after a tour of the Saudi southern borders Saturday.
A number of Yemeni websites said Yemeni forces came across six wounded Saudi soldiers in Yemeni territory and took them to hospital for treatment. The Yemeni authorities have not confirmed or denied these reports.
“These reports have not been confirmed. I do not think they are truthful,” Prince Khaled said confirming that the Saudi forces are in complete control of the Al-Dood Mountain and its strategically important peak.
Asked when the purging operations would end, Prince Khaled said: “We are not in a hurry. The fighting situation is good. Our objective, set by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, is to minimize human losses and inflict maximum damage possible on the enemy.”
Prince Khaled on Sunday visited the injured Saudi soldiers at the Armed Forces Hospital in Jazan wishing them quick recovery and congratulating them on the Eid Al-Adha.