Tribesmen in the village of Al-Raha in the south of Jizan, meanwhile, have taken up watches to protect local residents from the threat of infiltrators and their efforts, they say, have resulted in several captures. Villagers, both young and old, armed with Kalashnikov machine guns, are taking three-man shifts from 3 P.M. until dawn to keep watch over the settlement. “Everyone here wants to do their bit to support the authorities, we all have a responsibility to our country,” said villager Abdullah Alwani. “The guards keep watch and report any possible infiltrators to the authorities,” said Ali Yahya, one of the local volunteers. “It has resulted in the capture of some of them.” Persons spotted or captured are handed over to the authorities who take up the case from there. Village elders from Al-Raha have been playing their part by regaling the younger generations with “tales of their ancestors' heroic exploits and sacrifices for their country”, according to 80-year-old Mohammed Al-Alwani. “The story of the founding of the country is full of such examples,” Al-Alwani said. “Our forefathers were the target of looters and abductors until security was brought to the country.” The children of Al-Raha have not been left out either, with their services employed to provide a continuous supply of food and refreshments for those keeping vigilance.
