Special to WorldTribune.com Iranian officials accused Saudi Arabia of “sabotage” after talks broke down on a deal that would have enabled Iranians to make the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. “The arrangements have not been put together and it’s now too late,” Iranian Culture Minister Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency on May […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Militants affiliated with Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) killed a Saudi soldier during a gunbattle on May 8 in a mountain village outside of Mecca. Saudi troops also found an explosive vest and bomb-making material after the jihadists retreated from the village of Thaqeef in the western Taif region, state […]
Special to WorldTribune.com The termination of 50,000 workers for the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) sparked a wave of protests that included the torching several buses in Mecca. The job cuts were mostly foreign workers who were given permanent exit visas to leave Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-based newspaper al-Watan reported. SBG, a massive construction company, was […]
Special to WorldTribune.com from ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has completed a major security exercise for upcoming pilgrimages to Mecca. Officials said the Interior Ministry oversaw an exercise meant to enhance the security forces for the Haj pilgrimage in early October. They said the exercise took place in Mecca and included live fire and rescue […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Saudi Arabia has employed Pakistan to enhance internal security for the Gulf Cooperation Council kingdom. Diplomats said the Saudi royal family has been working with Pakistan to bolster security in the GCC state. They said Pakistan would supply trained personnel for most of the Saudi armed forces, including police and […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has deployed tens of thousands of officers to protect the annual Muslim pilgrimage. Officials said the special operations officers would be deployed around the Grand Mosque in the Saudi city of Mecca. The officials said the massive security force would ensure order and prevent any attack during […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Security forces assigned to protect the Islamic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia have been bolstered by a huge armored fleet. The Interior Ministry has approved the deployment of more than 3,500 special forces troops to protect the annual Haj in Mecca. Officials said the forces would be bolstered by 450 […]