Clashes between Saudi forces and anti-Shia militants kill 4

Clashes between Saudi security forces and gunmen suspected of carrying out a deadly terrorist attack against the country’s Shia Muslims have claimed the lives of at least four people.

The exchange of fire between the Saudi troops and armed terrorists left at least four people dead, including two members of the security forces, in the town of Buraida north of the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday.

Fifteen people were also arrested in connection with the deadly terrorist offensive against the country’s Shia minority.

“We cannot confirm we are done with the security operations. We have dealt with what the preliminary information provided us with. But these arrests may lead to more information that opens up new areas of operations,” said Saudi Interior Ministry security spokesman Major General Mansour Turki.

Earlier on Tuesday, unidentified gunmen attacked a gathering of Shia Muslims and killed five mourners commemorating Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram that marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia imam.

The deadly assault, which was carried out in al-Ahsa, the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia’s restive Eastern Province, also left more than 30 mourners wounded.

Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and 72 of his loyal companions, were martyred on Ashura in the battle of Karbala against the second Umayyad caliph, Yazid I, in 680 AD. Imam Hussein was killed after he refused to pledge allegiance to the tyrant ruler.

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