Mortar bombs land in Saudi Arabia close to Iraq borderJuly 8, 2014 - 11:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Three mortars bombs landed inside Saudi Arabia close to its border with Iraq on Monday, July 7 causing no casualties but raising concerns about instability in the kingdom's northern neighbour, where Islamist militants have occupied land near the frontier. Saudi authorities said they are investigating the incident to determine the source of the mortars, which caused no casualties after landing near a block of flats in a new district outside the town of Arar. The attack was the second near a Saudi frontier in three days, after al Qaeda militants based in Yemen staged a raid in al-Sharurah in south Saudi Arabia in which 10 people were killed. Last week Saudi King Abdullah ordered the country to a higher level of security following lightning gains made by militants in Iraq, who have declared the creation of a new caliphate and Islamic state on land extending to the Saudi border. The birthplace of Islam and world's top oil exporter constructed strong border defences with Iraq last decade. But it is worried that the emergence of the Islamic State militant group - which has shortened its name from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) - will encourage more dissent among its own citizens. Bringing down the al-Saud ruling family is a main goal for al Qaeda, which wants to establish a caliphate in Mecca, and staged attacks on foreigners and government targets in a campaign that was crushed by Saudi security forces last decade. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators Strategic business cases, invaluable experience, innovative approaches and more than 25 events are in store for the participants of CaseKey 2024. Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |