Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

Saudi Arabia foils U.S. Embassy attack, arrests 93 suspects

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the arrest of 93 suspects with ties to the Islamic State group who it says were planning multi-pronged attacks on the U.S. Embassy, security forces and residential compounds where foreigners live.

The list of targets recalls a wave of attacks launched by al-Qaeda inside the kingdom from 2004 to 2007, which killed dozens of people, including foreigners, and threatened the stability of one of the world’s most important oil-producing nations. Saudi Arabia is also home to Islam’s holiest sites, in Mecca and Medina.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia’s security forces are better prepared than ever to fight back against the Islamic State group. The kingdom is part of a U.S.-led coalition bombing the group in Iraq and Syria.

He said there have been five IS-related attacks across the kingdom in recent months that have killed 15 civilians and security personnel. But he said Saudis have largely ignored the IS group’s calls to take up arms against their government and attack the Shiite minority, security forces and foreigners living in the kingdom.

“We do have a number of people who do respond to such calls and do try to carry out such terrorist organizations’ orders, but these people do not represent the Saudi population, do not represent the 20 million Saudis,” he said in remarks to the AP a day before the announcement of the arrests, which took place over several months.

Al-Turki said the security raids included a cell of 65 people arrested in March who were involved in a plan to target residential compounds and prisons. They also allegedly planned to carry out attacks aimed at creating sectarian strife. All but two in the cell were Saudi citizens.

Authorities also disrupted a plot for a suicide car bomber to attack the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh after receiving information about the plan in mid-March, he said. Two Syrians and a Saudi citizen were arrested in relation to the plot.

The timing of the alleged attack coincides with a U.S. decision to halt all consular services for a week starting March 15 at the embassy and diplomatic missions inJiddah and Dhahran over security fears.

2

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

They caught it this time; I don’t see how long Saudis can fend these guys off. I still think eventually they will strike a deal with these guys showing Iran as the common enemy.

3

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

Honestly I dont believe Saudis a bit..

4

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

Now one thing is that Saudi’s intelligence is way too strong.. has always been since the monarchs took over.

And I just read about this shuffling..everything is very important right now!

Saudi King Salman appoints new crown prince, replaces foreign ministerAGENCIES — UPDATED 24 minutes ago

[TABLE=“class: media media–stretch one-whole palm–one-whole, width: 698”]

He appointed his son, Prince Mohammed as deputy crown prince and ambassador to US Adel al-Jubeir as foreign minister. —AFP/File

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday dismissed the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud, and replaced him with his nephew, the Interior Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
“We have decided to respond to his highness and what he had expressed about his desire to be relieved from the position of crown prince,” said a statement from the royal court, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
It added that Moqren was also relieved of his position as deputy prime minister.
The decree named “Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as crown prince” as well as deputy prime minister and said he will continue to hold his position of interior minister and head of the political and security council, a coordinating body.
The dismissal of Moqren removes the last-remaining high-level official remaining from the era of King Abdullah, who died on January 23 and was replaced by Salman, 79.

Moqren, 69, would have been the last son of the kingdom’s founder, Abdul Aziz bin Saud, to rule.
His dismissal leaves bin Nayef as the first of the second generation, or grandsons of Abdul Aziz, in line to lead the world’s largest oil exporter.
The appointment of bin Nayef further solidifies control of Salman’s Sudayri branch of the royal family. Their influence had waned under Abdullah.
He also appointed his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as deputy crown prince.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the kingdom’s defence minister, oversaw nearly a month of air strikes by a Saudi-led regional coalition against the Yemeni rebels.
The king also replaced veteran foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal with the kingdom’s Washington ambassador Adel al-Jubeir.
Faisal “asked to be relieved from his duties due to his health conditions," said the royal decree published on the official Saudi Press Agency, adding that he was appointed as an advisor and a special envoy of King Salman.
King Salman appointed Khalid al-Falih as the country’s health minister and chairman of Saudi Aramco, state television said.
Falih was the chief executive of state oil giant Saudi Aramco. A replacement for him as head of the company was not immediately named.

5

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

^ Saudi intelligence
Prince Alaweed

6

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

Some of those 93 were probably to settle old scores, but it is still believable. Coz if IS can go as far as Afghanistan, then there is no reason for them to spare Saudia.

7

Re: Saudi Arabia foils attack on US Embassy.

Reshuffle is interesting in and itself. Coming so soon after the news about the IS round-up has added significance. It looks like they want to step up and play the role of a regional power. All this BS about Arab League, GCC etc is not helping them.