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The siege of Mecca : the forgotten uprising in Islams holiest shrine and the birth of al Qaeda /

By: Trofimov, Yaroslav
Material type: BookPublisher: London : Penguin Books, c2007.Description: 301 p. : ill., map ; 20 cm.ISBN: 9780141034065Subject(s): Mecca (Saudi Arabia) -- History -- Siege -- 1979-
Summary:
On November 20, 1979, the first morning of a new Muslim century, hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islams holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. These men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. They believed that the Saudi royal family had become a craven servant of American infidels, and sought a return to the glory of uncompromising Islam. With nearly 100,000 worshippers trapped inside the holy compound, the bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the U.S. and causing hundreds of deaths. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos, who prepared the final assault. The Saudi royal family ultimately compromised with the rebels supporters, helping to set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11 and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.--From publisher description.
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Item type Home library Call number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
REGULAR University of Wollongong in Dubai
Main Collection
953.8053 TR SI (Browse shelf) Available T0036264
Total holds: 0

Includes bibliographical references (p. 265-289) and index.

On November 20, 1979, the first morning of a new Muslim century, hundreds of gunmen stunned the world by seizing Islams holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque in Mecca. These men came from more than a dozen countries, launching the first operation of global jihad in modern times. They believed that the Saudi royal family had become a craven servant of American infidels, and sought a return to the glory of uncompromising Islam. With nearly 100,000 worshippers trapped inside the holy compound, the bloody siege lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the U.S. and causing hundreds of deaths. The desperate Saudis finally enlisted the help of French commandos, who prepared the final assault. The Saudi royal family ultimately compromised with the rebels supporters, helping to set free the forces that produced the attacks of 9/11 and the harrowing circumstances that surround us today.--From publisher description.

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