Saudi border guards face Yemen 'Red Line'

The Saudi border guard points past a crumbling, abandoned village towards a road barely visible against the hazy backdrop of Yemen's towering mountains.

"That is the Red Line," he says.

Beyond it lies Yemen and the threat from its Shiite militia who have already killed three Border Guard troopers since a Saudi-led coalition began air strikes last month to stop a rebel advance on Yemen's port city of Aden.

Hundreds of kilometres (miles) from the battle for the city, the Border Guard force -- supported by Saudi artillery and army troops -- have reinforced the kingdom's frontier along the Huthi's traditional north Yemen stronghold of Sadaa.

"We took control of all the high points," the officer says atop the three-storey observation tower on a sandy hill which even a four-wheel drive vehicle struggles to ascend.

The post, named "Tayash", was established one month ago. On the roof, two machine gunners aim their weapons out over the deserted brownish-green valley stretching for several kilometres towards Yemen's scrubby mountains.

Since a 2009 incursion by the Huthis, Saudi Arabia has relocated villagers to modern housing compounds further from the border in a bid to improve security.

All that remains in the valley are abandoned clusters of roofless buildings and a distant mosque now devoid of worshippers.

So far, no shots have been fired in anger at this post, guards say.
"There are no Huthis" nearby, one says, a rifle slung over his shoulder as he stands on the edge of the hill above an armoured personnel carrier.

To make sure, other guards scan the terrain with binoculars.

A noisy electricity generator powers their wind-blown base, which includes ground-floor sleeping quarters, about 100 kilometres from Saudi Arabia's most southwestern city, Jazan.

- Heavy firepower -

Similar observation points and a communications tower can be seen on nearby hills.

Colonel Hasan Ageeli commands this sector of around 70 kilometres (40 miles) of frontier.

He told visiting reporters he is confident there will be no repeat of 2009, when Huthis occupied two small Saudi border villages -- sending Saudi warplanes, artillery and special forces into action.
Ageeli, with a closely-cropped black beard, said the kingdom is far-better prepared to face an incursion, with upgraded equipment and new observation posts offering a full overview of the buffer zone.

His men are also in high spirits, he said.

"They want to defend their country and feel proud," Ageeli said.

The only Saudi casualties since a Riyadh-led coalition began air raids on Yemeni rebels two weeks ago have been the three border guards shot dead in separate incidents in the Asir region, adjacent to Jazan.

There have not been regular exchanges of fire even though some Huthi positions are only 100-150 metres from Saudi guards, Ageeli said.

Heavy firepower is close at hand if need be.

A few minutes drive from the Tayash post, AFP saw army artillery batteries and communication units, with about a dozen tanks and several armoured personnel carriers partially obscured behind a newly-erected white fence.

The front line is far enough away from Jazan city that most people there see no reason to worry.

"We are far from the border," one resident of the Red Sea city said. "People are not afraid."

"There is no problem," said another young man, wearing a traditional white thobe as strolled on the wide but near-deserted corniche.

But Abu Ibrahim, a taxi driver, isn't so relaxed despite his smile and warm demeanour.

The coalition has not so far sent ground troops into Yemen. It says its aircraft have been destroying rebel missiles and other targets, but Ibrahim fears the Huthis still a pose threat to his city, home to a naval base and other security facilities.

"If there is a ground operation we worry the rebels might respond and hit the city with missiles," he said. "But right now it's peaceful."