Just as there was an Operation Decisive Storm against what is happening in Yemen, a conflict that took place beyond Saudi borders, we need a similar action to confront what is happening within its borders. The battle that is taking place inside Saudi Arabia complements the battle that is taking place beyond its borders, particularly as the threat to Saudi Arabia’s security comes from within, as well as without.

Saudi security forces were able, within a very short period of time, to bring the killers of two Saudi policemen to justice, and foil terrorist plots hatched by the Islamic State (IS) targeting the Kingdom’s security and stability. These events revealed that the IS has been active in Saudi Arabia recently, setting up a broad-based network calling itself Jund Bilad Al-Haramain (Soldiers of the land of the two holy mosques). The name of this self-proclaimed IS affiliate immediately brought to mind the threatening statements issued by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah earlier this year, who said that the “land of the two holy mosques” is facing a major threat.

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki made a very clear statement outlining the threat that Saudi Arabia is facing from IS, revealing that security forces had arrested terrorists in a number of different locations across Saudi Arabia. These are terrorists who are affiliated to Al-Qaeda, IS and other terror groups, and who had managed to reach advanced stages in terrorist plots before they were ultimately foiled by the Saudi security. In the latest spate of arrests, Saudi security forces arrested a total of 93 people who are affiliated with terrorist groups.

Saudi Arabia arrested 15 members of the so-called Jund Bilad Al-Haramain, in addition to at least 65 others that had been recruited by the group. These recruits were mostly Saudi nationals, as well as one Palestinian and a Yemeni; they were arrested in different areas across the Kingdom and all have ties, directly or indirectly, with the IS. These terrorist suspects were allegedly plotting to target residential compounds, seeking to incite sectarian violence in Saudi Arabia along the lines of the Al-Ahsa attack last year, according to official statements.

This means that there is a dangerous attempt to incite sectarianism in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi people, Sunni and Shiite alike, must remain steadfast in rejecting such attempts, as this is something that will only serve the interests of the IS and its ilk.

There is also information that this terrorist network was seeking to target and assassinate Saudi military figures at home. So at a time when the Saudi military is on a high alert, embroiled in a conflict in Yemen against the Houthis — part of a greater regional conflict — IS is seeking to target Saudi Arabia’s soldiers on their own territory.

The Interior Ministry’s statement also warned that some of these IS affiliates were arrested on charges related to spreading propaganda, particularly through social media websites like Twitter. Therefore, IS using social media for coordination and propaganda purposes, and to recruit Saudi youth, is also a very dangerous phenomenon that we must resist with all of our strength.

So, IS’ targeting of Saudi Arabia — from more than one direction — is something that is ongoing and only escalating. Just last year, 400 people with ties to the IS were arrested in the Kingdom, and that number is likely to be even greater this year.

Saudi Arabia is now facing a double threat: From Iran and its affiliates on one hand, and the IS on the other.