"The armed forces completely control Al-Dood mountain, one of the most strategic regions," Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz said during an inspection of troops on the border, quoted in the official Saudi media.

Saudi forces have "cleaned up every inch of Saudi territory," he said, warning that "any person who infiltrates or sniping will end up either surrendering or dead."

Open fighting erupted on November 3 between Saudi forces and Huthi militants, Zaidi Shiites battling Yemen's government, after a group of Huthis killed a Saudi border guard and occupied two small Saudi villages.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's defence ministry announced that nine soldiers had gone missing in the conflict. At least another nine troops and four Saudi civilians have been killed, according to an unofficial tally.

Saudis have deployed fighter-bombers, heavy artillery, special forces and marines to force Huthis away from the border and stop illegal border crossing.

Prince Khaled also said Saudi forces had captured 75 Ethiopians and 70 Somalis in border operations, and said they were being interrogated, without specifying if were involved with Huthi forces.

Yemen has tens of thousands of refugees from East Africa, mainly Somalia, many of whom try to sneak into Saudi Arabia to find jobs.

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