An ISIS flag in Kobane
Representational Image.Reuters

Saudi Arabia, a prime target of the Islamic State that has called for 'volcanoes of jihad' in the kingdom and elsewhere, is fortifying itself from the militants with a 600-mile long wall, dubbed the 'Great Wall'.

The country began work on the wall last September, with an aim to protect itself from its border with Iraq, with 40 watchtowers, night-vision cameras, and control centres with radar to detect aircraft and vehicles, according to The Telegraph.

The construction of the 'Great Wall' comes at a time when ISIS has moved from verbal threats to real attacks on the kingdom.

ISIS launched its first direct attack by targeting a Saudi border post last week, killing three, including General Oudah al-Belawi, the commander of border operations in the northern zone.

The Islamic State has been vocal about its aim to takeover the kingdom, which is home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

However, while the wall may be effective in thwarting infiltrations by the group, the kingdom also faces terror threat from within the country, given that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had called supporters in Saudi Arabia to draw their swords to strike on the "head of the snake", stating that the the country has become a "stronghold of disease."

Following the threats, Saudi Arabia cracked down on terror suspects it alleged had connections with ISIS, arresting 135 people last month.

The new wall with which the kingdom seeks to keep jihadists at bay will comprise five layers of fencing fitted with underground motion sensors and will be patrolled by border guards and rapid response vehicles.

Saudi Arabia has also built similar barriers on its border with Yemen.

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