RIYADH // Saudi Arabia on Monday reported three shells hit the Arar area inside the country along its border with Iraq, where Islamist militants have gone on the offensive.
“Three shells struck near a residential complex in the northern border area, without causing casualties,” a border guards spokesman said, adding that an inquiry into the origin of the shelling was under way.
In November, Iraqi pro-Iranian Shiite group Jaish Al Mukhtar claimed it had fired six mortar rounds into a remote area of northeastern Saudi Arabia as a “warning” to the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia shares over 800 kilometres of borders with Iraq.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has deeply strained relations with Iraq’s Shiite-led government.
Riyadh has accused Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al Maliki of creating the conditions for last month’s militant offensive by marginalising its Sunni Arab minority.
Mr Al Maliki in turn has accused the oil-rich kingdom of supporting “terrorism” in his Shiite-majority country.
* Agence -France Press
