Saudi Arabia planning to build wall around Yemen: Report
For the third time in 20 years, Saudi Arabia is reportedly moving forward with a plan to completely seal off its border with Yemen by building a 900 km fence.
According to financial information and analytics company, S&P Global, the plan comes after years of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure by the Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents.
“According to official documents seen by S&P Global Commodity Insights, the kingdom is seeking a company to manage the gigantic infrastructure project, which will include helipads, security towers and radar equipment, communications, and extensive supporting road networks,” S&P Global reported.
The ‘Southern Border Protection’ scheme is planned to completely seal off the kingdom’s border with Yemen.
A Saudi-Yemeni barrier plan was first announced in 2003. The initial plan included a structure made of pipelines three metres high filled with concrete, acting as a security barrier along sections of the border with Yemen fitted with electronic detection equipment.
Construction began in September 2003, however strong objections by the Yemeni government led to the cessation of activities in February 2004.
In 2013, reports from Saudi Arabia claimed that the kingdom is resuming the project. Reports claimed that the plan, like in 2003, consisted of a network of sandbags and piping, fitted with electronic detection systems.
S&P Global reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior did not respond to a request for comment.
The company said that Saudi Arabia’s oil and energy infrastructure, especially close to its land borders with Yemen, has been extensively targeted over the last five years.
“Attacks in the kingdom account for 49 percent of 95 incidents recorded by the S&P Global Energy Security Sentinel project since 2018,” it reported.
Saudi Arabia’s southern border with Yemen has three main critical infrastructure locations, an oil refinery in Jazan, and two electric power stations in Asir and Tihama, along the Red Sea coast.
