Advancing Against Terror

Establishing a Saudi special operations center is another step toward regional security

UNIPATH STAFF

A new special operations training center in Saudi Arabia will help the country continue on its path of ridding the kingdom of terrorism. In the fall of 2012, military and government officials attended the inauguration ceremony of the Prince Nayif Center for Special Operations and Advanced Applications, located in the Dhurma region about 70 kilometers northwest of Riyadh.

Interior Minister His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud attended the event at the new center, which is dedicated in the name of Muhammad’s father, His Royal Highness, the late Prince Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, who served as the country’s interior minister for 37 years. During his tenure, Prince Nayif oversaw a crackdown on al-Qaida and is credited with dismantling supposed charitable organizations that collected donations for the terrorist group.

Like father, like son: Prince Muhammad is pursuing his father’s iron fist policy to counter al-Qaida terrorists and extremist ideologies. The move has provoked al-Qaida operatives to target the prince in multiple assassination attempts. The most serious was in August 2009, when a suicide bomber blew himself up near Prince Muhammad. The al-Qaida terrorist was able to get close to the Saudi leader by saying he was surrendering himself to the government, but in reality he had an improvised explosive device hidden inside his body. This failed attempt emboldened Prince Muhammad to embark on ridding Saudi Arabia of all al-Qaida cells and terrorist activities.

Through the Prince Muhammad bin Nayif Center for Counseling and Care, the prince continues his counterterrorism efforts to enhance the security and stability of Saudi Arabia with programs to rehabilitate Saudi nationals found guilty of terrorist-related offenses. The Saudi Special Emergency Force (SEF) is another important security component, and Prince Muhammad has announced his intentions to strengthen the organization’s capabilities.

The SEF was established in 1972 to support the police in dealing with drug trafficking. By the late 1990s, its role expanded to include a greater focus on counterterrorism. To date, 13 counterterrorism centers in the country are affiliated with the SEF and complement the Prince Nayif Center. The SEF is charged with countering threats to Saudi Arabia from terrorist groups such as al-Qaida, as well as stopping maritime piracy. SEF units also support security during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to ensure the safety and security of more than 3 million pilgrims.

The new center served as the main setting for the launch of the SEF’s fifth military exercise, Sawlet al-Haq, or the Round of Truth. Forces displayed their skills using live ammunition and Black Hawk helicopters and other advanced equipment during scenarios that included regaining control of a hijacked airplane, oil tankers and foreign embassies attacked by terrorists.

“The objectives of the establishment of these exercises are to emphasize the readiness of the Saudi military forces in all regions of Saudi Arabia during their participation in various security taskings,” said Gen. Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Assistant Minister of Interior for Operation Affairs, as reported in the Al Riyadh newspaper. “The exercises will enhance the forces’ abilities in using military equipment and will help them increase hands-on experience … moreover, the training will assist our forces to perform at a high level of professionalism.”

Echoing the same sentiment, SEF Commander Maj. Gen. Khalid bin Gahrar Al Harbi described the training as an important contribution to the country. “Improving security performance requires reading the situation and projecting future events before they occur. Thus, we replaced traditional security training with more sophisticated and specialized training exercises,” Al Harbi told Al Riyadh. The commander also indicated that Saudi Arabia was keen to maintain and develop educational and training partnerships with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, China and Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia’s goal is to enlist counterterrorism centers, tactical military exercises and multinational partnerships to prepare the SEF not only to safeguard the homeland, but to empower Saudis to defeat threats to the entire region.  

Sources: Al Riyadh newspaper, Saudi Press Agency, Okaz newspaper