Saudi Arabia: Security forces kill three militants in Qatif July 21

Event

The Saudi Interior Ministry reported on Friday, July 21, that security forces located and killed three militants suspected of firing upon police a week prior in the town of Sehat. Reports say the militants were suspected of killing at least eight soldiers, as well as of committing armed robbery and weapons smuggling. The militants have not yet been publicly identified.

Context

Eastern Province is home to numerous Shi'a militants classified by the Saudi government as terrorists. Sporadic clashes between these militants and security forces occur frequently in the province (especially in Qatif and Dammam) and security forces regularly conduct raids in the region.

Generally speaking, sociopolitical tensions are high in the province, which is mostly populated by Shi'a Muslims, whereas the rest in the rest of the country the majority of the population is Sunni. Since 2011, Saudi Arabia's Shi'a Muslims have staged numerous demonstrations against what they see as the systematic economic marginalization of their community by the central government. The Islamic State (IS) has previously launched attacks on Shi'as in Qatif.

Advice

Individuals in the Eastern Province are advised to avoid any form of gatherings and to monitor the situation. Due to the risk of sporadic outbreaks of violence, the American government prohibits its personnel from traveling to Qatif and surrounding suburbs as well as to Hofuf and surrounding suburbs.

More generally, given the prevailing terrorist risk in Saudi Arabia, those present in the country are advised to exercise caution at all times, 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.), and report all suspicious objects or behavior to authorities.