Aseer, a Yemeni-based human rights group has warned against an alleged hatched by Saudi Arabia to pillage Yemen’s natural resources in the northern province of al-Jawf, which sits directly south of the kingdom.

Activists have stressed that tribes were resentful over what they perceived as trespassing over their territories. Tribal chiefs said they are ready to defend their land and underground riches to whatever cost, hinting to potential military repercussions should tribesmen feel strengthen in the slightest.

Al-Jawf sits directly over large reserves of oil and gas. Oil wells have already been dug up in region in the 1980’s and experts have established that one of them is considered the third largest oil well in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Local tribes have long accused Saudi Arabia of trying to muscle Yemen out of its wealth to quench its own grid.

Yemen shares a 1,800-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia, which border has often been a contentious subject in between Sana’a and Riyadh as both parties have laid claims of ownership on regions known for their vast oil and gas resources.

While 2000 Jeddah Border agreement, signed by then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh should have put an end to all lands recriminations and border demarcation disputes, 2011 uprising blew back open the box of recriminations, with activists rejecting whatever accord former President Saleh had signed on account of alleged corruption.

Activists have also argued that Saudi Arabia is keen to syphon al-Jawf’s water resources to palliate to its own acute water crisis.

Aseer, has been campaigning to return what it calls Yemen’ stolen lands: three formerly Yemeni provinces: Najran, Jizan and Aseer, which have for decades been under the control of Saudi Arabia.