JEDDAH: The Saudi-Yemeni border has witnessed relative calm in the last two days after Saudi armed forces, supported by Coalition planes, repulsed an attack by Houthi and militia forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh on the Al-Muwsim region of Jazan province.
The Saudi-coalition joint attack resulted in the death of a Houthi leader and 40 Houthi fighters, in addition to the destruction of military vehicles, and the bombing of rear elements of Houthi forces who were supporting their advance units with shelling of the populated border areas of the Al-Muwsim region. Some 5,000 people live in the area.
On Sunday, Saudi armed forces killed five Houthi and Saleh fighters trying to cross into the Kingdom.
Warplanes of the coalition, meanwhile, continued pounding Houthi militias in Sanaa and other provinces in Yemen.
The Yemeni government forces on Sunday liberated Al-Gheel county in the Al-Jouf province, the second largest Houthi stronghold in the region. Al-Gheel is strategically important for being situated parallel to Sadaa, the bastion of Houthis.
In the battle for Al-Gheel, more than 20 Houthis, including their commander, were killed and dozens were arrested, according to Yemeni sources.
The Yemeni national army and Popular Resistance Committee have confirmed the liberation of the key Al-Jouf county from the militia of the Houthis and Saleh.
In a statement carried by the Yemeni News Agency, a Yemeni Army source said the liberated county has been a key stronghold of the Houthi militia in the Al-Jouf Province.
Sources said Al-Gheel was liberated in a final push early Sunday by the army and resistance forces supported by planes of the Arab coalition. Dozens of militiamen made good
their escape but the victorious forces captured heavy military equipment plus medium and light weapons and ammunition, the sources said.
5 enemy infiltrators killed in Jazan; Hadi forces capture Houthi stronghold
5 enemy infiltrators killed in Jazan; Hadi forces capture Houthi stronghold
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
