RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 15 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia has dismantled scores of armed groups in 170 security operations carried out in various parts of the oil-rich kingdom over the past three years.
Daily al-Yom newspaper Monday quoted a report as saying Saudi security agencies were largely appreciated and applauded throughout the world for their efforts in combating terrorism, especially by the United States and Britain.
The report said security forces managed to abort 95 percent of terrorist operations planned by Islamic extremists in operations that claimed the lives of 58 security members.
Egyptian security and strategy expert Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Shakib was quoted as saying "the spread of terrorism was closely linked to the lack of balance between the Arab world and the outside world, creating political, economic and social congestion and frustrations at the internal and external levels.
"Saudi Arabia succeeded in dealing with these terrorist cells over the past years, resulting in a tangible curb of terrorist operations on Saudi territory," Shakib said.
Saudi security expert Saad Shahrani also noted that terrorist cells were no longer as active and as big as they used to be although "the ground is still fertile for the expansion of extremism that would mostly attract the youth."
Saudi Arabia has been rocked by several terrorist attacks since May 2003 that claimed the lives of civilians and security men.
