Saudi Arabia: Soldier killed in gun battle with militants

In yet another clash between jihadists and the security forces in the west, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on 8 May that a soldier had died in a gun battle in the Taif region. SPA said two assailants opened fire on a police station before retreating to a mountain village, Thaqeef, where Private Saeed Al-Harithy was killed in an exchange of fire. An explosive vest and bomb-making material were found. On 5 May, troops shot dead two Islamic State fighters and two others blew themselves up in a raid on their compound outside Mecca.