Abdullah Al-Sirouri and Turki Al-Wadie Okaz/Saudi Gazette
JAZAN/ASIR — Emir of Asir Prince Faisal Bin Khaled and Emir of Jazan Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser have confirmed that the Kingdom's southern borders are safe and secure and the situation there was peaceful and calm. They said Houthi rebels pose no immediate danger to the Kingdom from the south. Emir of Asir on Sunday inspected the border region from the closest city to Yemen from the south which is Dhahran Al-Janoub. "I am now standing at the last point on our border with Yemen. I assure everyone that there is nothing to worry," he said while lauding the efforts of the Border Guards in securing the safety of the border region. "Our military forces do not need a message or a word (of encouragement) from me. They know very well that they are the pillars and the invincible shield of the country," he said. Prince Faisal said the Border Guards and the Saudi Arabian armed forces are working together in unison and are doing their best to protect the Kingdom. He was also briefed on the work of the Border Guards and watched a video showing the mechanism of their duties. During his inspection visit, the prince also met with tribal chiefs and dignitaries of the region who assured him that they would sacrifice their blood for the defense of the homeland. Prince Muhammad, on his part, said Operation 'Decisive Storm' was launched at a crucial time and reflected the courage and wisdom of the Saudi leadership. "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is deeply concerned about the safety of our southern borders and is determined to support the people of Yemen," he said. The prince made the comments during a meeting with a delegation from Jazan University led by its acting president Mohammed Bin Ali Rabie who came to express support for the 'Decisive Storm' operation. Meanwhile, Arab interior ministers expressed their unequivocal support for Operation Decisive Storm. The Riyadh-based secretariat general of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers expressed unequivocal support for the operation launched by a coalition of 10 Arab and Islamic countries led by Saudi Arabia. "The operation is aimed at restoring the constitutional legitimacy in Yemen and confronting the plots against its unity," the statement said. It added that the Houthis, backed by some regional powers, wanted to pull Yemen out of its Arab ambience and threaten the security and stability of its neighbors. The secretariat general said the operation was a manifestation of Arab solidarity and was within the efforts being exerted by the Kingdom and other Arab countries to protect the stability of the region and annihilate the sources of terrorism. Elsewhere, the Chairman of the Saudi Red Crescent Society Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah has issued directives for the society to support Jazan and the southern areas with additional ambulances and paramedics to deal with any emergency situation. Spokesman of the society in Jazan, Bishi Sarkhi, said 17 Red Crescent teams have been positioned in Uhud Al-Masarha with 18 well-equipped ambulances. He said the teams included personnel for maintenance, medical supplies and field work. Sarkhi said the two border towns of Samtah and Al-Tawwal have each been provided with eight ambulance teams. Tribal chiefs and tribesmen in Jazan visited military forces stationed along the southern borders to voice support and express solidarity. The tribesmen expressed their readiness to fight alongside military forces in the event Houthi rebels dare to infiltrate through the borders. They said Operation Decisive Storm will save Yemen from the clutches of the Houthi rebels who spread chaos and destruction on orders from Iran.
