Saudi, Hungarian defense ministers discuss military ties    Al-Rajhi: Cabinet's decision is supportive to most vulnerable groups    King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as Royal Court advisor    Alkhorayef emphasizes Saudi Arabia's growing role as global industrial investment hub    Saudi Arabia adopts World Drowning Prevention Day as national health priority    GACA imposes SR2.8 million in fines for 87 civil aviation violations in Q2 2025    Desperate Gaza doctors cram several babies into one incubator as fuel crisis reaches critical point    ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over women's rights violations    Syria issues appeal to EU for help battling massive wildfires along northwestern coast    Total e-messages sent to parties in lawsuits reach over 11.8 million during first half of 2025    3 arrested in assault case in Riyadh    New Property Ownership Law will take into effect in January 2026 Al-Hogail thanks King and Crown Prince for the updated law    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Teenager, 14, keen to fight infiltrators
By Naif Masrahi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 12 - 2009

“It is time to stand up and support our soldiers on the border.”
These were the words of 14-year-old Saudi teenager, Yousef Al-Safhi, Monday.
He had a real machine gun hanging from his shoulders which he said his late father gave him before he died.
“My father liked to collect different kinds of guns and knives. Before he died he gave this gun to me and told me to be a man because I would be the person responsible for looking after the family when he passed away,” said Al-Safhi.
Al-Safhi said his father died when he was eight. He then became responsible for looking after his mother and sisters.
Although Al-Safhi is only at intermediate level at school, he wanted to show he was a man.
He shook the hands of the Saudi Gazette team who arrived at his home for an interview. He then proceeded to offer local food, including Marsa (bananas with bread and honey), meat Kabsa and fresh milk.
After the meal, Al-Safhi demonstrated his shooting skills. Out on the land, he shot three birds using a hunting rifle.
“When Yousef was young he used to go on hunting trips with his father.
He also likes to clean and care for the guns of his father,” said Al-Safhi's uncle, Yahya.
His mother, Fatema Al-Gaiman, said that he is considered the father of the home.
“When Yousef comes from school, he usually goes to our farm in the east of the village to collect feed for our livestock. He is a useful and good boy even though he is still young,” said his mother.
She said that he also goes shopping with his uncle at the Ahad Al-Masareha market for food, clothes and water.
“He has the ability to deal with everyone in his village, young and old. Most of his relatives and people in the village love him,” she added.
Al-Safhi said he has been dreaming of fighting alongside his fellow countrymen on the border. He wants to offer something to the country he loves, he said.
“Yousef dreamt recently that he was fighting on the border with the Saudi military at Mount Dokhan and killed three infiltrators,” said his mother.
She said he has been telling his friends repeatedly that he will one day fight in the military.
Al-Safhi said that he saw on the Oprah Winfrey show that dreams can come true.
“When I watch the program I read the translation at the bottom of the screen, so I can understand what is being said.
Oprah said that if a person wants his dream to come true then he must keep thinking about it and then one day it will come true.”
“So I will continue to think about fighting in the Saudi military until I succeed,” he said.
Al-Safhi said he does not eat fast food, like burgers and fried chicken, because he dislikes the taste.
“I went to a big restaurant in Jizan city, and I ate a beef burger. It was very spicy and had a strange taste. I will never ever eat such food again,” he said.
“I like the food made by my mother and sister because it is fresh and tasty. It has vegetables like tomatoes and okra.”
When the interview was over, Al-Safhi gave the Saudi Gazette team some jasmine he had planted himself.


Clic here to read the story from its source.