On July 3, 1990, a group of militants from the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda attacked a U.S. training facility in Saudi Arabia. The attack was a precursor to a series of escalating conflicts in the region, which would eventually lead to the Gulf War. The camp was a crucial site where U.S. military personnel were training Saudi forces. The incident marked a shift in al-Qaedas focus from local to global jihadist activities. The attack would influence U.S. foreign policy and military presence in the Middle East.