Posted on 09/05/2005 5:56:32 AM PDT by Wiz
By Abderazaq Al-Hzami RIYADH, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- The clashes between security forces and militants in Dammam, East Saudi Arabia are still ongoing, official spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry Major General Mansour Al-Turki stated Monday.
The spokesman told KUNA the number of the militants involved in the ongoing clashes is yet to be known and security forces are targeting several spots where they are holed up.
He said the Interior Ministry would issue a statement that provides the details on this incident once the confrontations that started yesterday afternoon are stopped.
Saudi security had yesterday detected members of an extremist group in a commercial compound in the heart of Dammam. Upon knowing they were spotted, the militants opened fire. Two militants were killed and a third escaped in the exchange of fire.The Interior Ministry Spokesman said that the militant who initially escaped was traced to a villa in eastern Dammam where he was holed up with a large group of extremists and that is where and when the serious confrontations ensued.
(Excerpt) Read more at kuna.net.kw ...
The Eastern province of Saudi Arabia has a large Shi'a population. I suspect that Iran has something to do with this.
The area from Dammam to Jubail has always been a source of agitation from the Shi'a. A town called Qatif was(is?) an especial source of agrivation. The Emir of the Eastern Province (at the time Prince Turki) threatened to destroy the town if they heard any more static from them. Sounds like they may be still at it. This whole province is important to the Saudis because of the very heavy industrial concentration. Jubail is known as an "industrial city." Dhahran is the HQ of Saudi-Aramco. Thier operations extend all the way down south to Hofuf, about 100 miles away. That includes Abqaiq, a huge natural gas processing site. All of this is run by Westerners (read: Americans and Brits.).
It sounds like you have lived there. I did as well for five years. The Saudis have always been nervous about the Eastern Province, especially after 1979 and the rise of Khomeini.
Yep. I was there 77 to 91. Got out just in time from all appearances.
I was there (Riyadh) 1987-92. You must have left prior to Desert Strom. I was in Dhahran at our consulate right after the start of Desert Storm.
No, I was in the Command Post in Dhahran through Desert Storm and left in August of 91. Say, do youknow where to turnin this gas mask that the Embassy gave me? I still have it.
LOL. I still have mine. It was a real bureaucratic battle to get gas masks sent to the Kingdom and distributed. I wish I could have filmed the military training the people on how to use them. It was a case of one size fits all.
I have discharged my duty now. After 15 years I have tried to turn in my mask and no one took it. I guess it'll stay on my wall forever.
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