Saudi guard killed in Yemen border shelling

A Saudi border guard was killed and seven others were wounded when shelling from across the border in Yemen hit their patrol route along the southern border of Saudi kingdom.

The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when according to the Saudi interior ministry, shells “from across the border with Yemen” struck the border guards as they patrolled Jazan region’s Harth municipality, Agence France-Presse reported.

The Jazan region has been the source of fatal shell fire before.

Infographic: Saudi-led strikes hit Sanaa

Infographic: Saudi-led strikes hit Sanaa

The ministry added that the border guard force “dealt with the situation accordingly” while working closely with other branches of the military.

This latest attack brings the number of both Saudi military personnel and civilians killed to 31 since the start of a Saudi-led Arab coalition to restore the legitimate government of Yemen’s exiled President Hadi.

Meanwhile, warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition struck military bases aligned with Yemen's Houthi rebels in the capital Sanaa overnight and early Sunday morning, residents said.

The raid hit an air base near Sanaa airport and a military installation overlooking the presidential palace compound.

Coalition sorties have been striking Iranian-backed Houthi militias and their allies who have taken much of the country.

The campaign by Saudi and its allies has caused deadly skirmishes between the militias and the Saudi forces along the southern frontier of the country including the shelling of residential areas in border-provinces.

In Yemen, weeks of fighting between pro-and anti-government forces has led to more than 2,000 deaths and the displacement of more than half a million people according to the United Nations.

(With AFP)