A prominent sheik of the Wayilah tribe, which lives along the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, told Yemen Times that up to 3,000 tribesmen are preparing to fight Saudi forces unless Saudi Arabia pulls out of Yemen.
| "Yar! We be fierce tribesmen!" |
The sheik claims that Saudi Arabia has already built a security fence 4 to 7 km beyond the neutral zone inside Yemen, stretching from Jabal Hobash to Jabal Al Fara, âand we are ready to fight any time if Saudi Arabia doesnât remove what they have built in our country.â
| "Yar! Fightin' and feudin' and disco is our life!" |
On February 7, leaders of the Wayilah tribe issued a statement protesting the Yemeni-Saudi border committeeâs memorandum which demands tribesmen to identify their properties outside the international borderline. Even though tribes are preparing for a conflict, a Yemeni government official told Yemen Times on Tuesday that Saudi authorities did accept to remove the separation fence along its border with Yemen after extensive Egyptian and US efforts paid off in convincing Saudi authorities to do so. âBoth the US and Egypt exerted efforts with Yemen and Saudi Arabia resulting in an agreement to remove all constrictions made by the Saudis,â said the Yemeni official. |