State Department Issues Saudi Arabia Travel Warning Over Terrorist Attack Risk

Yamanyoon- 22 Nov 2017

The Department of State Tuesday issued a statement urging its citizens to carefully consider the risks of travelling to Saudi Arabia due to the threats from terrorist groups and the threat of ballistic missile attacks  Yemeni army.

The warning came just two weeks after a ballistic missile fired by Yemeni army  from Yemen towards the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The missile, which the Ansroallah said was in response to Saudi-led air strikes on civilians in Yemen, hit Riyadh airport.

The warning published on the U.S. State Department’s website said that the terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State group (ISIS) are targeting major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, including areas frequented by U.S. citizens and Westerners.

According to the statement issued by the department, on Oct. 7, a terrorist had attacked a Saudi government installation in Jeddah where two Saudi guards were shot dead and three others injured when the gunman drove up to the gate of the royal palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah and opened fire. Since May, sectarian issues in the Qatif region in the Eastern Province have resulted in several attacks against Saudi forces conducting security operations there.

The report went on to say, “violence from the ongoing conflict in Yemen continues to spill over into Saudi Arabia. In the past year, Yemeni army has fired several long-range missiles into Saudi Arabia capable of reaching the vicinities of Riyadh and Jeddah, and they have publicly stated their intent to continue doing so. The most recent attack on Nov. 4 resulted in big losses on King Khalid International Airport north of Riyadh.”

It also stated that the Yemeni forces routinely fire artillery at Saudi border towns and launch cross-border attacks against Saudi military personnel.