Saudi Arabia Dismantles Four Daesh Cells

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced today a successful counterinsurgency operation that led to the dismantling of four Daesh (ISIS) cells and subsequent arrest of 18 suspected terrorists.

According to Ministry Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, 15 of those arrested were Saudi nationals, two were from Yemen and one was from Sudan. Gen. Al-Turki said that all arrested were involved with different aspects of Daesh operations, including providing financial and logistical support, offering shelter, and assisting with recruitment, training and the development of explosive devices for Daesh operatives known to have launched attacks in Saudi Arabia.

The operation was carried out over a five-day period. Arrests were made in Qassim, Makkah, Madinah and Riyadh provinces. Security forces seized automatic weapons and two million Saudi riyals in cash ($533,000) during the raid.

Gen. Al-Turki said the security operation underscored the Kingdom's forceful and decisive counterterrorism efforts and his ministry's commitment to bring to justice anyone involved in extremist activity.

This is distributed by Qorvis MSLGROUP on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office