Saudi soldier shot dead in Qatif as unrest continues

A Saudi soldier was killed during an attack at the restive region of Qatif in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The security spokesman of the Ministry of Interior stated that at 10pm on Thursday night, Sergeant Mohammed Hussein Hazazi, part of a border guard patrol on duty at the Al-Rams coast in Qatif governorate dies when “exposed to fire shooting”. Another soldier, Sergeant Khalid Muaber Hakami was also injured in the incident and admitted to hospital, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Security authorities have begun an investigation into the incident, the report added.

The region of Qatif, home to the kingdom’s Shia minority, has been witness to rising tensions in recent months.

Separate incidents on July 4 and 6 saw two police officers killed and eight others injured.

Read: Two Saudi policemen injured in latest Qatif attack

Saudi ruler King Salman vowed last Saturday to punish those responsible in calls to the relatives of those killed.

On Wednesday, the kingdom also executed four of its nationals for terrorism offences in the province.

The men were executed for a series of capital crimes ranging from violent demonstrations, to attacking police patrols and stations, spreading anti-government leaflets, preventing patrols form carrying out their duties and providing shelter to wanted terrorists, according to the statement.

Other crimes included training terrorists to manufacture explosives, throwing explosives at security patrols, joining terrorist groups, firing at security forces and killing or injuring them, financing drug and weapons dealers, shouting anti-court chants, setting tires ablaze and announcing disloyalty to the monarch.

Read more: Saudi executes four nationals for terrorist acts in restive Qatif