RIYADH/SHAROURAH: Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, has issued eight orders to help the families of the two border guards who were martyred in a confrontation with an infiltrator who tried to cross into Yemen recently. The infiltrator was also killed. Prince Naif's orders include the posthumous promotion of Col. Abdul Jaleel Al-Otaibi to the rank of major general and Sgt. Barrak Al-Harthi to Sergeant First Class. They have also been granted pensions at their promoted rank. The injured soldier Sgt. Abboud Al-Aklabi was elevated to the rank of Sergeant First Class. The families of the two martyrs have each been given SR1 million to purchase a house and pay all their debts. Additionally, urgent aid of SR100,000 has been given to each of the martyrs' families. The injured soldier also received SR100,000. The two martyrs have been decorated with the third grade King Abdul Aziz Medal and Badge of Honor. The martyrs' parents have been given a monthly salary of SR3,000 for the rest of their life and have also received their sons' end-of-service awards. Funeral prayers for Al-Otaibi at King Khaled Grand Mosque in Riyadh were attended by Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs and senior security commanders. Al-Harthi was buried in Sharourah in the presence of his family and senior officials. Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the infiltrator was not carrying any identification papers and was driving a white 2010 model Nissan car, which turned out to be owned by another person. However, the number plates did not match the car, indicating the car was stolen or the number plates were forged. The same sources said the infiltrator probably belonged to Al-Harbi tribe and comes from Al-Qassim. He was trying to cross the border into Yemen, but was detected by infrared cameras near an earth dyke west of Al-Wadi'ah border post. His car got stuck on a high earth dyke between the Saudi and Yemeni border, which was erected to curb the entry of smugglers. During the exchange of fire, the infiltrator hit Al-Otaibi in his right leg while Al-Aklabi was wounded in his right foot and retreated to the patrol car. Al-Otaibi took an AK-47 assault rifle and resumed fire against the militant, but was surprised by heavy fire in return. Al-Otaibi was then shot in the abdomen. The militant started firing from a different location and hit Al-Aklabi. The border guards eventually killed him at sunrise. He was carrying a pistol, two bags of ammunition, a pair of pliers and telecommunication devices.
