A Saudi armycommander says his military has lost 113 troops since the kingdomlaunched a sweeping offensive against Yemen's Shi'ite rebels in November.
Maj.Gen. Ali Zaid al-Khawaji says the dead include a senior Saudi officer.His body was found with those of two other soldiers after a battle lastweek to drive Yemeni Shiite rebels out of a border village.
TheAl Riyadh newspaper reported al-Khawaji's figure on Thursday. It's asignificant jump from last week's toll, which stood at 82 dead and 470wounded.
Yemen's Hawthi rebels have been battling their owngovernment since 2004 over neglect and discrimination. When the rebelscrossed the border into Saudi Arabia and killed two border guards inNovember, the kingdom's military joined the fray.