Terror suspects killed

Saudi security forces carried out a pre-emptive operation in the Al Jish village of Al Qatif province, killing two wanted persons and arresting others yesterday after an exchange of fire. Security forces had immediately demanded the suspects to surrender themselves once the raid began, but they rejected their request and opened fire on them.

Informed sources quoted by Al Arabiya said that all the suspects who clashed with the security forces were outside declared wanted person lists, but has proved their involvement in cases affecting the security of the state. Most significant of those involvements came in the targeting of security elements and premises and the disruption of development projects of the province. Violence in the area has become rarer since security forces largely flushed out terror suspects in a 2017 campaign.

Deadly militant attacks on security forces have escalated since Nimr al-Nimr, a cleric, was executed two years ago after being convicted of inciting violence.