We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again.

More than 25,000 residents of the town have lived in constant fear of arrest, assault or death, after government forces swooped in for what they claimed was an “anti-terror operation” in the besieged town of Awamiyah.

The Saudi interior minister confirmed the deaths of a two-year-old boy and a Pakistani national in the town, adding that at least 14 people had been injured during a raid in the Almosara neighbourhood.

Authorities claim the clashes erupted after unidentified “terrorists” fired at workers contracted by a company implementing a controversial renovation project in the town.

Reports also suggest the group used explosives to destroy construction equipment.