ISIS Suicide Bomber Kills 21 in Saudi Shi’ite Mosque

123 Others Reported Wounded as Blast Destroys Mosque

In a move that simultaneously adds concerns about growing ISIS influence in Saudi Arabia and sectarian tensions in that country, a suicide bomber has destroyed a Shi’ite mosque full of worshipers today, killing 21 and wounding 123 others.

The attack occurred in the village of Qadeeh in the Saudi east, where over 150 worshipers were within for Friday prayers. The building was more or less destroyed in the strike.

The attack came shortly after ISIS caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi issued a statement calling for attacks within Saudi Arabia. ISIS has claimed credit for the bombing, of course, though officials have yet to say if they’re sure it was them.

Sectarian tensions have risen off and on in eastern Saudi Arabia over the years, but have been steadily rising over the last few months on the Saudi war against Shi’ites in neighboring Yemen.

Most Shi’ites in Saudi Arabia live in the east, which is also where much of the nation’s oil production is centered. This makes the rise in tensions particularly serious for the nation.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.