AFP
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia said yesterday that at least 500 insurgents have been killed in border clashes since the coalition it heads launched air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
A defence ministry statement in Riyadh also said three soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on the kingdom’s border with Yemen on Friday.
The statement gave the first reported death toll for border clashes since the coalition launched air strikes against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen last month.
Earlier, coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told journalists at his daily briefing in Riyadh there had been 1,200 coalition air strikes between March 26 and midday yesterday.
He said the raids had neutralised the air and ballistic capabilities of the rebels and their allies, and “will continue”.
