Saudi forces sweep eastern town for Iran-affiliated militants

Saudi forces are continuing to sweep an Eastern Province town where militants affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who are wanted on terrorism charges have barricaded themselves, a security source said.

Security forces have been overseeing the implementation of an order to demolish dilapidated buildings the authorities have deemed uninhabitable in the town of Awamiya in Qatif region's Almosara district.

The militants have barricaded themselves inside these buildings, and have prevented some civilians from leaving in order to use them as human shields.

Due to the intensity of the clashes, many residents of the district and adjacent districts who can manage to escape are continuing to flee the area.

Security operation under way

The Saudi authorities made a decision some time ago to demolish many of the unstable buildings in Awamiya, former Saudi army officer and military attaché Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Shehri told Al-Mashareq.

The occupants of these buildings were paid compensation at the time, but have been prevented from leaving by IRGC-backed militants who seek to use them as human shields and impede the advance of the security forces.

"The militants turned the area into a fortress from which they launched attacks against the security forces," al-Shehri said.

As the security forces have advanced in the district over the past two months, violent clashes have erupted between them and the militants that left a large number of dead and wounded on both sides, as well as civilians, he said.

"An operation is currently under way to sweep the area of militants wanted by the courts on security-related charges," he added.

The situation became more heated last week when Saudi Arabia’s top appeals court on July 27th upheld the death sentences of the so-called Awamiya cell -- 14 men accused of terrorism offenses.

The cell members were convicted of carrying out more than 50 armed attacks and a number of armed robberies, he said.

A number of security officers were killed and wounded in the latest incidents.

In a particularly vicious attack that occurred on Saturday (July 29th), al-Shehri said, "one security officer was killed and six others were wounded, while the architect of the attacks, Maitham Ali al-Qadihi, a dangerous fugitive, was killed".

Civilians vacate the area

Electronics engineer Hussein Ahmad Mansour, 45, who lives in al-Mansouri district near Almosara district, told Al-Mashareq that he and his family left the area where the sweep is taking place to avoid potential danger.

Mansour said he currently lives with relatives in the Eastern Province.

The militants in Almosara district did indeed hide behind civilians, he confirmed, and prevented them from leaving after the authorities paid them their compensation.

"They did this by constantly firing on residential districts to prevent civilians from moving," he said, adding that "the area is now almost empty of residents after the militants' plot to use them as human shields was exposed".

Some Almosara residents left the area on Saturday after receiving their compensation, he said, while the last batch left on Wednesday (August 2nd).

Dozens of families are still leaving the area -- following the instructions provided by security personnel -- after which they are provided with temporary housing.

The authorities also have facilitated the exit of civilians living in districts adjacent to Almosara to get them out of harm’s way.

These districts include Um al-Mreis, al-Dirah, al-Saabi, al-Mounira, al-Mansouri, al-Kleibi, Shukrallah, Gharb al-Jumaima, Gharb al-Uwaina, al-Muhannadi and al-Rabbaniya.