In a vague message, the extremist group ISIS has called on its followers to launch attacks on oil pipelines and economic structures in Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi Arabia's co-operation in restoring ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The audio message, posted on ISIS's telegram channel, came on Monday after the United Arab Emirates ratified the agreement, dubbed the Ibrahim Accord. Under the agreement, commercial flights between the Gulf states and Israel will operate for the first time.
ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qureshi said in the alleged audiotape that the kingdom supported the relationship by opening its airspace to UAE flights to Israel.
"The agreement to normalize relations is a betrayal of Islam. Our targets are many, including attacks on and destruction of oil pipelines, factories and facilities that provide economic resources for this tyrannical regime.
At its height in 2014, ISIS occupied much of the Middle East, including much of Syria and Iraq. But after the military defeat in March 2019, all areas were lost. That same year, the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Badadi, was killed in a US operation.
As Saudi Arabia is a major oil exporter, the impact of any attack on its infrastructure will be felt around the world.
This was revealed in 2019 after the attack on Saudi Aramco facilities by drones and missiles supplied by Iran.
Although ISIL's back is broken, its remnants continue to carry out attacks across the region, leaving it fearful of reorganization.
The group's call for an attack on Saudi Arabia is not surprising. In recent years, there have been attacks in the Saudi cities of Qatif and Riyadh.
The holy cities of Mecca and Medina were not safe from these attacks. In 2017, Saudi security forces foiled an attack near the Grand Mosque, while in 2016 there were several bombings in three Saudi cities, one of which took place near the Prophet's Mosque.
A new audio message attributed to ISIS shows that the extremist organization has not given up its efforts to attack targets in Mecca and Medina.
According to Saudi political analyst and international relations scholar Dr. Hamdan al-Shehri, "the kingdom works globally and plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region through intelligence and information sharing."
The world relies on Saudi Arabia's security intelligence and its efforts in this field in the region. Terrorist groups, including ISIS and Iran, and groups under its influence, are aware of the role of the state. That is why they are trying to infiltrate Saudi Arabia and harm the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is also playing a key role in the global coalition against ISIS. After the United States, Saudi Arabia has carried out the most attacks on ISIS. The Saudi air force has carried out 341 airstrikes in Syria and allowed allies to use its airspace.
