Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Al Qaida devises new tactics in Saudi Arabia
The terror outfit is focusing on changing its tactics by using women either to carry out suicide missions or to win the sympathy of the targeted persons to facilitate attacks, they say.
- By Abdul Rahman Shaheen, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 October 19, 2009
Riyadh: After receiving severe setbacks in Saudi Arabia following a successful crackdown and pre-emptive strikes by security forces, Al Qaida is plotting fresh attacks in the country, with new tactics, experts warn.
The terror outfit is focusing on changing its tactics by using women either to carry out suicide missions or to win the sympathy of the targeted persons to facilitate attacks, they say.
The assassination attempt on Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef, the powerful assistant interior minister responsible for the kingdom's anti-terror fight, and last week's Jizan shootout with terrorists in women's attire are examples of the new tactics, they say.
Speaking to Gulf News, a number of Saudi experts who specialise in Al Qaida related issues, said the terror group, now reorganised in Yemen, used the name of a terrorist's wife to win the sympathy of Prince Mohammad in the attack.
Ali Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, a Saudi political analyst, noted that three hardcore terrorists of Al Qaida leadership in the Arabian Peninsula were keen to employ the services of women cadres in carrying out their missions. "They believe in potential power of women with supportive roles in carrying out terror attacks. They also wanted to exploit high regard and lofty position enjoyed by women in the Saudi society," he said
Yousuf Al Ayiri, one of the founders of Al Qaida in Saudi Arabia, killed in a security manhunt in 2003, also realised the key role that women could play in carrying out terror attacks.
In a 19-page message addressing women titled "The role of women in waging Jihad against enemies," he said that women are the most effective weapon to lure men into carrying out terror missions. He also cited examples of women fighters in Afghanistan and Chechnya.
Proof of failure
Dr Faisal Al Aani, a social researcher, observed that Al Qaida's change of strategy to use women is clear proof of their failure in front of the Saudi security forces.
Earlier Sultan Al Otaibi, a key Al Qaida figure, talked in a video cassette about his wife Ummu Hamza's decision to carry out suicide attacks in the kingdom. Among the women, who have extended direct support to terrorists, is the wife of Khalid Al Subait, who figured in the list of 26 terrorists published by the Interior Ministry.
The writer Eisa Al Aushen, pointed out in an article on the killing of Al Subait in April 2004, that the terrorist hosted eight top figures of Al Qaida at his house, and they included Abdul Aziz Al Muqrin, the slain leader of Al Qaida in the kingdom, and that the wife of Al Subait, who is a Chechen by origin, escaped to Chechnya with their children after his death.
Another writer Fares Bin Hizam noted that the role of women mainly concentrated on the supervision of household affairs and fundraising, and also on the provision of treatment and medical care for wounded terrorists on certain occasions.
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