Saudi security beefed up after attack near Iraq border

Security has been beefed up in and around the city of Arar near Iraq border where Commander of the Border Guards in the Northern Province Brig. Oudah Muawwad Al-Balawi and two soldiers — Corporal Tariq Mohammed Halawi and Private Yahya Ahmed Najmi — were killed in a suicide bomb and gun attack early Monday morning.

The suicide operation was carried out by four terrorists in Al-Suwaif district, about 40 km from Arar.

Spokesman of the Northern Province Border Guards Capt. Mohammed Al-Fihaiqi said Colonel Salem Taasan Al-Anzi and Private Yahya Ahmed Muqari were injured.

All the four terrorists were killed, he added.

Ministry of Interior spokesman said that at 4:30 a.m. on Monday four terrorists were spotted trying to cross the Saudi border through Al-Suwaif post bordering Iraq. When the patrol intercepted them, the terrorists opened fire and the patrol responded accordingly. As a result, one of the terrorists was killed while another terrorist detonated an explosive belt he was wearing when the patrol tried to convince him to surrender.

The other two terrorists attempted to escape, but the security men surrounded them at Arar Valley and asked them to surrender. But one of them blew himself up while the other was killed by security men.

The patrol seized automatic guns, pistols, hand grenades and explosive belts and currency notes.

The injured Border Guards were airlifted to the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh and their condition is stated to be stable.

The Suwaif border post, which is only open to traffic during Haj, is 40 km from Arar and 80 km from the Iraqi city of Al-Nukhayb, which is held by the government.

This story was originally posted on the Saudi Gazette on Jan. 6, 2015.