In a bid to strengthen border security, Saudi Arabia has deployed National Guard (SANG) troops to the Najran Province on the border with Yemen, the SPA reports. Last week, a Saudi border guard was killed and two troops wounded by heavy gun and mortar fire in Najran.
The report of the deployment comes amid an ever-evolving political and security situation in Yemen. Last week, Saudi Arabia announced that it would end its air campaign there, entitled Operation Determination Storm, but air strikes resumed less than a day later under a new banner, Operation Renewal of Hope. Some reports put the death toll of civilians in the conflict at over 1,000.
Troops with SANG arrive in Najran. Photo via SPA.
A report today in the Wall Street Journal claims that before the Saudi-led Operation Determination Storm, Yemen’s warring political factions “were on the verge of a power-sharing deal when Saudi-led airstrikes began…derailing the negotiations.” The report cited a United Nations envoy who mediated the talks, Jamal Benomar.
SANG forces are one of three major branches of the Saudi Arabian armed forces, and do not fall under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, which is why it took the direction of King Salman to deploy them to Najran. “In fact, SANG is a unique institution that is equipped to address both internal and external security and defense contingencies. It is the largest military force in Saudi Arabia 100,000 personnel in 2011 as compared to 75,000 for the regular army, 34,000 for the air force and 15,500 for the navy. It has become a modernized military force,” wrote SUSTG’s Richard Wilson, in December.
Here’s the SPA report confirming the deployment of the SANG troops:
Najran, Rajab 07, 1436, April 26, 2015, SPA — Vanguards of the Ministry of National Guard troops, ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the supreme commander of all military forces, have arrived in Najran region to participate in the defense of the southern borders of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia along with other military forces, so as to confront any possible threats to the southern strategic direction of the kingdom.
These forces are one of the elements of national force participating in the protection of the strategic interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alongside other elements of the national force enjoying follow-up and direct attention of Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of the National Guard.
These Forces consist of mechanized infantry brigade that includes infantry units, units of artillery and mortars, air defense, reconnaissance, engineering, logistics, weapons of anti-armor and guns of intrusion which are trained to carry out traditional combat tasks and security missions at the same time, commensurate with the current challenges faced by the world in general and the Kingdom in particular.
–SPA
