Yemen Rebels say 2 Missing Saudi Soldiers Dead

On Tuesday, Yemen Shiite rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam said that the 2 Saudi soldiers they were thought to have been holding were actually killed in battle, thus ending the issue of Saudi prisoners. He continued that the last 2 missing Saudi soldiers were killed during batting and are no longer alive. They informed mediators of their deaths, Abdel Salam added, and they even indicated where they were buried.

According to Saudi General Ibrahim al-Malik, who is head of public affairs for the military, said that they have no information on if the 2 soldiers died or not. They can’t say anything until they receive information.

It was originally thought that the Yemen rebels (also known as Huthis) were holding 5 Saudis after capturing them during 3 months of fighting. One of the soldiers was released on February 15, and 2 more were freed on February 18, which was in line with a truce made with the Yemeni government after over 5 months of fighting in the northern mountains.

Along with freeing all the prisoners and opening roads in the north, the truce mandates that the rebels withdraw from government buildings, hand over captured army posts and return arms they seized from security forces. They were also made to promise they won’t attack Saudi Arabia.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says that over 250,000 people evacuated their homes because of the fighting, which all started in 2004 with the Huthis engaging in fighting with government forces. In November, Saudi Arabia joined the fight and accused rebels of killing a border guard and taking over 2 villages.