His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, issued today (Tuesday) an urgent and important directive to all mosque preachers throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, instructing them to dedicate next Friday's sermon to a vital topic concerning the security and stability of society. The directive emphasizes the obligation to thank God Almighty for the blessings of security, safety, and tranquility that the Kingdom enjoys, while stressing the necessity of warning the public against the dangers of engaging in discussions about events and crises without proper knowledge, and guiding them towards what benefits them in matters of their faith and worldly affairs.

The sermon's main points: Warning against rumors and the prohibition of filming security operations

The ministerial directive included several key points that preachers must address clearly, foremost among them reminding people of the blessings of security and stability and the obligation to be grateful for them. The directive also emphasized the strict prohibition against spreading and circulating rumors, or rushing to disseminate unverified news. His Excellency stressed the necessity of discouraging people from discussing crises and analyzing events in private gatherings or on social media, urging them to leave these matters to specialists and those whom God has entrusted with the affairs of the country, in compliance with religious and legal directives.

In a related context, the directive focused specifically on warning against the phenomenon of filming or sharing videos related to security incidents. The directive clarified that such practices fall under the category of "spreading rumors" and inciting fear, which could endanger lives and public interests, in addition to providing a free service to enemies and enabling them to escalate their aggression by revealing movements or spreading panic.

Legal and national context: Strengthening intellectual security

This directive comes within the framework of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs' ongoing strategy to promote "intellectual security" and protect the social fabric. From a Sharia perspective, this directive is based on established religious principles that urge the verification of news and the avoidance of disseminating information that could cause public anxiety, in accordance with Quranic injunctions that mandate referring security and public matters to those in authority and qualified to interpret religious texts. Historically, the Friday sermon in the Kingdom has played a pivotal role in unifying the community and guiding social discourse during sensitive times, reflecting the integration between religious institutions and security agencies in maintaining the stability of the state.

The importance of awareness in facing the challenges of new media

This guidance gains added importance in light of the technological revolution and the proliferation of social media platforms, where the transmission of information—whether accurate or false—now occurs in fractions of a second. Highlighting the dangers of "citizen journalism" in security situations is a proactive step to prevent the spread of misinformation that could be exploited by hostile entities to destabilize the country. The anticipated impact of this sermon extends beyond religious awareness, aiming to fortify society psychologically and socially against psychological warfare and malicious rumors.

The directive concluded by urging people to increase their supplications in the sermon, asking God to protect the Kingdom’s leadership and perpetuate its glory and strength, and to bestow upon our country and all Muslim countries the blessing of security and stability, with special prayers for the brave soldiers who defend the homeland, asking God to guide their aim and protect them from all harm.

The official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced today (Tuesday) that the US embassy building in the capital, Riyadh, was subjected to a hostile attack carried out by two drones, according to initial assessments made by the competent authorities immediately after the incident.

The official spokesperson explained the details of the damage caused by this attack, noting that the targeting resulted in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building's facilities, without any reported human casualties, reflecting the limited impact of the attack thanks to the safety measures in place.

Context of escalation and targeting of vital sites

This incident is not isolated from the security developments witnessed in the Kingdom in recent hours. This attack comes just one day after the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted and destroyed five explosive-laden drones that were attempting to target the vicinity of Prince Sultan Air Base in the Riyadh region. This base is considered one of the most important strategic military bases in the region, indicating repeated attempts to target military infrastructure.

Targeting global energy security

In a related development concerning threats to the Eastern Province, Saudi defenses also thwarted another attack involving two drones that attempted to target the Ras Tanura refinery. The targeting of Ras Tanura carries serious implications that extend beyond the local level, given that it houses one of the world's largest oil shipping ports, making any threat to it a direct threat to global energy supplies and the international economy, not just to the Kingdom's security.

Defense readiness and protection of diplomatic missions

These successive successes in thwarting attacks, whether in Riyadh or the Eastern Province, underscore the high level of readiness and efficiency of Saudi air defense systems in detecting and neutralizing aerial threats before they reach their targets. The attack on the US embassy also highlights a blatant violation of international norms and laws stipulating the protection of diplomatic missions and their exemption from conflict, as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The relevant authorities in the Kingdom continue to follow up on the investigations to gather all evidence related to the attack on the embassy, ​​while emphasizing the Kingdom’s full commitment to protecting all civilian objects and diplomatic headquarters located on its territory against any potential terrorist threats.