Saudi Arabia says soldiers killed in Yemen

The Saudi kingdom said Tuesday four of its soldiers were killed in a battle with Houthi fighters in Yemen, claiming it recaptured a small border village from the fighters.

Citing Assistant Minister of Defense Prince Khaled bin Sultan, Saudi state television reported that the soldiers were killed during clashes at a border post near Yemen, Reuters reported.

Prince Khaled claimed that the forces seized back the position and “destroyed” the fighters.

“The infiltrators have been eliminated from Al-Jabiri and the whole district has been taken under control,” he said.

Based on the report, 82 Saudi soldiers have been killed since Riyadh joined Yemen’s offensive against Houthis in November.

Saudi Arabia launched ground and aerial attacks against the fighters after accusing them of killing a Saudi border guard and occupying two border villages on November 3.

Saudi jets began bombing Yemen’s northern villages the following day and still continue the raids on the region.

The fighters accuse Riyadh of targeting civilian areas far from the Saudi-Yemeni border.