Saudi Arabia: Bombing targets police in Awamiya May 29

Event

Two Saudi police officers were wounded when a bomb targeting security forces exploded in Awamiya, eastern Saudi Arabia, on Monday, May 29. This incident marks the second attack against security forces in two weeks in Eastern province; on May 26, a police officer was killed when militants fired a rocket at soldiers.

Clashes in the east between the Shi’a Muslims and Saudi security forces have been occurring since May 10, when security forces launched an operation to clear out the Awamiya district in order to start a renovation project.

Context

According to Saudi authorities, the Awamiya district serves as a hideout for Shi'a militants suspected of attacking security forces and identified by the government as terrorists.

Sporadic clashes between gunmen and security forces often occur in the Eastern province (especially in Qatif and Dammam) and security forces regularly conduct raids in the region. The sociopolitical situation remains tense in Eastern province, which is mostly populated by Shi’a Muslims. Since 2011, Saudi Shi’a Muslims have staged numerous demonstrations against what they see as their systematic economic marginalization by the central government. Localized sporadic unrest is fairly common in the east of the country.

Advice

Individuals in the Eastern province are advised to avoid any form of gatherings and to monitor the situation. More generally, given the prevailing terrorist risk in Saudi Arabia, those present in the country are advised to exercise caution at all times, to keep a low profile, and to avoid public places lacking adequate security measures or locations deemed particularly likely to be targeted in the event of an attack (e.g., official buildings, military zones, etc.). Report all suspicious objects or behavior to authorities.

As a reminder, the majority of Western governments advise their nationals against travel to Saudi Arabia's southern provinces as well as areas near the Iraqi border. US authorities have specifically restricted American government personnel and their families from traveling within 80 km (50 mi) of the Yemeni border as well as to the cities of Jizan and Najran without authorization. Due to the risk of sporadic outbreaks of violence, the American government also prohibits its personnel from traveling to Qatif and surrounding suburbs as well as to Hofuf and surrounding suburbs (Eastern province). Travelers are advised to take the above restrictions into consideration.