National unity under attack

The suicide bombing inside a mosque in Qatif on Friday, the first such attack in the Kingdom, which saw several people killed and 100 injured, has shocked the nation and again raised questions about the reasons for the country being targeted in this manner.
It took the Interior Ministry less than 42 hours to determine that the Islamic State (IS) terror group was responsible and identified the bomber. Shortly afterward the security agencies arrested 26 members of the IS cell. They were, unfortunately, all Saudi citizens.
This was a stark reminder of the Al-Dalwa terrorist attack in Al-Ahsa in November 2014, which was also an attempt to create divisions in the country. The security forces were able to arrest the perpetrators quickly, within 12 hours, during operations that saw several officers martyred.
Saudis across the country condemned that attack, as they have now in the wake of the Al-Qadeeh massacre. There has been an outpouring of anger at the perpetrators, and a steely determination to stand firm against the onslaught to destroy the nation’s social fabric.
It is clear now that the IS leader was not making empty threats when he said that Saudi Arabia would be targeted. The IS strategy, as confirmed by the Kingdom’s security agencies, has been to divide the country into five sectors, and set up cells targeting officers and expatriates, striking military and other sites to damage the economy, and instigating sectarian strife.
The Middle East is polarized as never before with intense conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, largely due to the expansionism of Iran. Tehran is playing the sectarian card because it knows this strategy would inflict the most damage.
Since 2011, there have been 98 terrorist attacks in the Kingdom resulting in the death of 155 people and injury to 1,000. This excludes the attacks foiled by the Interior Ministry. These statistics prove that terrorists are continuing to target Saudi Arabia.
The latest attack on another so-called soft target has demonstrated how desperate the terrorists have become in trying to cause chaos in the country. They know that the Al-Ahsa operation has failed to achieve their goal of dividing citizens.
The debate now raging in the country is on ways to prevent these terrorists from preying on ill-informed young people. Members of the cell responsible for the Al-Qadeeh mosque attack included three under 16 years of age, while the suicide bomber, Saleh Al-Qashami, was 20.
The terrorists are using religious sentiments to target the youth. When Al-Qaeda planned the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, it recruited young people, who made up 15 of the 19 perpetrators. The inevitable result of that tragedy was almost irreparable harm to the image of the Kingdom and its youth. This is why many Saudis have been calling for tough action against those propagating extremist ideas.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Salman, in a recent speech, has promised this firm and decisive action. He said that the Kingdom would track down and punish all those involved in such activities, including participants, planners, supporters and sympathizers.
However, this is not only the state’s responsibility but of each and every individual. The enemy is conducting a dirty war that requires a collective effort to counter effectively.
Saudis have already expressed this commitment in the mainstream media and on social networking sites. It is a sign that citizens will not allow these terrorists to undermine their unity and solidarity, and have emerged stronger and more determined to defeat them.