Armed Individuals Kill 2 in Attack on Checkpoint in Central Saudi Arabia

Saudi state news agency has reported that on Saturday evening, July 8, armed individuals attacked a checkpoint in the Qassim region, 460 kilometers from Riyadh, killing a security officer and a Bangladeshi citizen. The statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior, published by the state news agency, mentions the name of the deceased officer as Sergeant Suleiman Abdul Latif. According to the same statement, 2 of the attackers were also killed in a confrontation with security personnel, and one of them was transferred to the hospital after being injured. Qassim, located in the Buraidah region, is considered one of the most conservative areas in Saudi Arabia, according to Reuters. No further details about this incident have been released. Saudi security agencies typically do not provide details about such attacks and refer to the perpetrators merely as 'terrorists' in official statements. International media have attributed some past attacks to the 'Hezbollah al-Hejaz' group, which is a Shia group, while ISIS has claimed responsibility for others. Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, has introduced plans over the past year aimed at expanding individual freedoms and modernizing this conservative country. However, several international organizations have described the Crown Prince's plans as insufficient or even unrealistic, especially following the arrest of 17 women's rights activists in the country. On the other hand, reports have emerged of opposition from Saudi hardliners against Mohammed bin Salman's reforms. About three months ago, when a false rumor about Mohammed bin Salman being injured circulated in Iranian media, Saudi officials reported gunfire around the royal palace in Riyadh; however, shortly after, Saudi police announced that the gunfire was aimed at a small drone approaching the palace. A week before this incident, Saudi security officials announced the dismantling of one of ISIS's networks in the country, reporting the deaths of two suspects and the arrest of five others. Last year, around 10 attacks occurred in Saudi Arabia, resulting in the deaths of 10 Saudi citizens, including security personnel, with the same number of attackers killed in these incidents. One of the most significant attacks occurred in October of last year, targeting the royal palace in Jeddah, resulting in the deaths of two members of the royal guard and injuries to three others. The Saudi state news agency identified the attacker as a 28-year-old citizen of the country, reporting that he was shot down by the guards.