Arms Explosion Reported at Yemen Border
JEDDAH, 11 May 2006 — A heavy arms explosion was heard in Alatwal province near the Saudi-Yemeni border last night, according to local residents interviewed by Arab News. The Interior Ministry confirmed the incident.
Officials believe the explosion was not a targeted strike, and possibly the result of random fire. No casualties were reported. The source of the explosion was unknown by the time Arab News went to press. An investigation is ongoing.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki told Arab News a strike from an unknown military-grade weapon landed in the proximity of a small village near Jizan. Villagers reported the explosion to local authorities.
The Saudi-Yemeni border west of the Empty Quarter and especially through the Asir mountains is known as a transit route for northbound drugs, arms and migrants. Saudi and Yemeni forces have been fighting these incursions for years. Like the US-Mexico border, bodies of undocumented migrants are often found in remote areas, victims of dehydration in their march north for jobs. About 40 bodies were found in the desert just east of the Asir range earlier this year.
An official Yemeni report issued earlier this year disclosed that organized smugglers are using children from the governorate of Hoja to smuggle contraband across the border in exchange for small sums of money. Often the families of these children encourage this behavior due to abject poverty.
Officials believe the explosion was not a targeted strike, and possibly the result of random fire. No casualties were reported. The source of the explosion was unknown by the time Arab News went to press. An investigation is ongoing.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki told Arab News a strike from an unknown military-grade weapon landed in the proximity of a small village near Jizan. Villagers reported the explosion to local authorities.
The Saudi-Yemeni border west of the Empty Quarter and especially through the Asir mountains is known as a transit route for northbound drugs, arms and migrants. Saudi and Yemeni forces have been fighting these incursions for years. Like the US-Mexico border, bodies of undocumented migrants are often found in remote areas, victims of dehydration in their march north for jobs. About 40 bodies were found in the desert just east of the Asir range earlier this year.
An official Yemeni report issued earlier this year disclosed that organized smugglers are using children from the governorate of Hoja to smuggle contraband across the border in exchange for small sums of money. Often the families of these children encourage this behavior due to abject poverty.
posted by Marko at 5/11/2006 07:39:00 AM
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