KSA fears Syria war turning against her interests

[SBD-3]

Until a few weeks ago, Saudi Arabia was riding high. Its regional policies, based on countering revolutionary fervour and containing Iran, appeared to be bearing fruit. Egypt’s army ousted the Islamist president, to plaudits and generous funding from Riyadh; the Syrian opposition elected a new pro-Saudi leadership; and the US seemed poised to launch military strikes on the regime in Damascus that Saudi Arabia has tried to dislodge.

But Riyadh’s satisfaction turned to dismay as a US and Russian deal to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons removed the need for military strikes; leading rebel factions turned against the leadership of the Syrian National Coalition; and relations between the US and Iran appear to be warming as the new president, Hassan Rouhani, pledged to negotiate over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The sudden change in diplomatic fortunes is felt most acutely over Syria, where the increasingly bitter rivalry between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran is playing out. For Tehran, Damascus is a bridge for logistical support of Hizbollah, the Shia militia that is its main proxy force in the Middle East; for Riyadh, the Assad regime is a destabilising Iranian outpost that must be removed to counterbalance the pro-Tehran, Shia-dominated government in Iraq.

”For us in Saudi Arabia, the worst scenario is to let Bashar [al-Assad] survive this: he has to go,’’ said Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi analyst close to decision-making circles. “The world can ignore what is happening in Syria but this is at our doorstep and it is on fire with sectarian flames that will reach all neighbouring countries.’’

Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar, has been the chief supporter of the Syrian rebels since the armed rebellion began, giving them weapons, training, finance and diplomatic support.

Riyadh has also consistently lobbied for more US involvement in the conflict and believes that President Barack Obama’s administration missed an important opportunity to turn the tide in favour of the Syrian rebels last winter when it barred the Saudis from supplying them with anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles because of concerns that they could fall into the hands of Islamist militants.

“Supporting the rebels is a strategic decision in Saudi foreign policy, like supporting the government in Egypt,’’ said Hussein Shobokshi, a Jeddah-based columnist. “On the ground there is a stepping up of support for the Syrian Free Army. This criminal regime [in Damascus] can export Hizbollah terrorism to us, so it is a matter of national security in the Gulf.’’

The kingdom’s frustration over Washington’s Syria policy has been exacerbated by last month’s chemical weapons agreement, which the Saudis say does little to change the course of the war or hasten the removal of Mr Assad. Analysts say Riyadh believes the Syrian leader and his Lebanese ally, Hizbollah, are part of a plan by Iran to surround Saudi Arabia with loyal Shia allies, including Yemen, Bahrain and Iraq.

With its policy in seeming disarray, some in Saudi decision-making circles question whether those in charge of the Syrian files are up to the complex mission. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the hawkish former ambassador to Washington, has been the intelligence chief for more than a year. While Prince Bandar is in the spotlight, it is his brother, Prince Salman, who is doing the day to day work on Syria.

“Instead of focusing on toppling Assad first, Saudi and Qatar were busy on side battles over influence on the next Syrian government,’’ a Saudi insider said.

Meanwhile, Syria’s rebels have become increasingly radical and jihadis now appear to be the strongest element in the revolt, causing unease among some members of the Saudi royal family.
Interior minister Prince Mohamed bin Naif, who led a security crackdown on al-Qaeda in the kingdom in the past decade, is said to be concerned about radicalisation of Saudi youth who went to join the fight in Syria.

“Even a large, wealthy state like Saudi Arabia faces limitations in access, capacity and expertise in dealing with a massive undertaking like Syria Saudi Arabia has, on top of money and ability to obtain weaponry, good contacts among former regime figures, tribal chiefs, Islamist leaders and military defectors,’’ said Emile Hokayem, a regional analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think-tank. “But it still depends on middlemen and facilitators to run its activities in Syria, which are piloted from neighbouring countries.”

As the challenges in Syria grow, there are fears in Riyadh that the war could drag on for more than a decade, draining Saudi coffers and destabilising the region. There are also concerns in Tehran that the proxy conflict between the two countries is getting out of control.

“Regional tensions will not ease if Iran and Saudi Arabia do not reach some kind of agreement over Syria and Iraq,” said one senior adviser to the Iranian government. “If such hostilities are not contained, Saudis will continue doing their best to sabotage any nuclear deal between Iran and the US.”

 

[beast89]

throwing money is only KSA can do and even that's not enough to save their cavemen bros ********.com - SAA Eliminates a Group of Obama Thugs in Daraa

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

That will not happen of course, Syria under Bashar terror thugs rule used to be the major ally of Iran in the region, and Saudi support of the FSA and Syrian people turned the country and it's people into enemy num 1 to Iran, so I don't see how Saudi Arabian interests are affected here, and yet it's benefiting on all ways. Not to mention that Iran and it's allies have no future whatsoever in Syria which means Saudi victory.

 

[Surenas]

That will not happen of course, Syria under Bashar terror thugs rule used to be the major ally of Iran in the region, and Saudi support of the FSA and Syrian people turned the country and it's people into enemy num 1 to Iran, so I don't see how Saudi Arabian interests are affected here, and yet it's benefiting on all ways. Not to mention that Iran and it's allies have no future whatsoever in Syria which means Saudi victory.

Glad all your predictions about Syria have become true. Oh wait, you and your pro-Saudi friends have provided wrong predictions for over two years now. Assad is still standing, and Iran is still controlling essential parts of Syria.

Not even considering the fact that the rebels and their Saudi/Qatari/Turkish masters have been unable to unify the opposition, or to professionalize the rebel military opposition. Rebels, after two years, still look like rag-tag militia members, while Al Qaeda is steadily taking over regions.

 

[Doritos11]

Glad all your predictions about Syria have become true. Oh wait, you and your pro-Saudi friends have provided wrong predictions for over two years now. Assad is still standing, and Iran is still controlling essential parts of Syria.

Not even considering the fact that the rebels and their Saudi/Qatari/Turkish masters have been unable to unify the opposition, or to professionalize the rebel military opposition. Rebels, after two years, still look like rag-tag militia members, while Al Qaeda is steadily taking over regions.

Iran doesn’t control Syria neither does it control Iraq neither do you have that much power as you keep telling everyone here. What I noticed about you is that you accept everything said about Iran ( by the media ) that makes Iran seem stronger then what it is, your not able to prove it, in the end it all comes down to , keep it up.

 

[Surenas]

Iran doesn’t control Syria neither does it control Iraq neither do you have that much power as you keep telling everyone here. What I noticed about you is that you accept everything said about Iran ( by the media ) that makes Iran seem stronger then what it is, your not able to prove it, in the end it all comes down to , keep it up.

Iran is controlling Syria and Iraq. There are tons of reports of Iranians leading Syria's armed forces now, as well as the fact that Iran's influence in Iraq is a force to reckon with, to such extent, that many Iraqi officials have complained about Iraq being a Iranian proxy. As well as American and other Arab officials, as Wikileaks has already exposed.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Glad all your predictions about Syria have become true. Oh wait, you and your pro-Saudi friends have provided wrong predictions for over two years now. Assad is still standing, and Iran is still controlling essential parts of Syria.

Not even considering the fact that the rebels and their Saudi/Qatari/Turkish masters have been unable to unify the opposition, or to professionalize the rebel military opposition. Rebels, after two years, still look like rag-tag militia members, while Al Qaeda is steadily taking over regions.

My predictions are coming true, everyday more and more of your bros are finished off and more and more areas are falling into the FSA hands. Iran will not win this war. And now Bashar's nails are being clipped by destroying his chemical arsenal. As I said the KSA is the winner anyway as Syria used to be Iranian main ally not Saudi's.

Iran is controlling Syria and Iraq. There are tons of reports of Iranians leading Syria's armed forces now, as well as the fact that Iran's influence in Iraq is a force to reckon with, to such extent, that many Iraqi officials have complained about Iraq being a Iranian proxy. As well as American and other Arab officials, as Wikileaks has already exposed.

Iran is starving man and losing everywhere, Iran is meant to be the loser of this world.

 

[Surenas]

My predictions are coming true, everyday more and more of your bros are finished off and more and more areas are falling into the FSA hands. Iran will not win this war. And now Bashar's nails are being clipped by destroying his chemical arsenal. As I said the KSA is the winner anyway as Syria used to be Iranian main ally not Saudi's.

Blabla. I've heard the same pro-opposition Arab rhetorics and propaganda two years ago. Weren't you the guy who claimed that Hezbollah would not conquer Qusayr, and predicted that Assad would fall within 6 months?

KSA is only winning in the mind of Jordanian fanboys.

 

[Doritos11]

Iran is controlling Syria and Iraq. There are tons of reports of Iranians leading Syria's armed forces now, as well as the fact that Iran's influence in Iraq is a force to reckon with, to such extent, that many Iraqi officials have complained about Iraq being a Iranian proxy. As well as American and other Arab officials, as Wikileaks has already exposed.

You value news reporters higher then your own intellect or you just like to accept anything in Iran’s benefit as I already pointed out.

Again, your repeating what news says in your benefit, you won’t be able to prove anything, so keep it up.

 

[Surenas]

You value news reporters higher then your own intellect or you just like to accept anything in Iran’s benefit as I already pointed out.

Again, your repeating what news says in your benefit, you won’t be able to prove anything, so keep it up.

While you are living in nice Holland, pictures of Khamenei are raised in various Iraqi cities. Don't be so naive.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Blabla. I've heard the same pro-opposition Arab rhetorics and propaganda two years ago. Weren't you the guy who claimed that Hezbollah would not conquer Qusayr, and predicted that Assad would fall within 6 months?

KSA is only winning in the mind of Jordanian fanboys.

Qusair!!??

 

[Jihad_]

Iran is controlling Syria and Iraq.

You are a joker. Even Assad isn't controlling Syria (from rag-tag militia members),and never will again.

 

[Doritos11]

While you are living in nice Holland, pictures of Khamenei are raised in various Iraqi cities. Don't be so naive.

We are both living in Holland.
Pictures of Khamenei are only raised by a few crazy Sadris on Quds day or Sadr day whatever it is, Alshawi can provide more info on that part, besides that is raised as part of a religious ideology by them, not by the government also notice the difference between influence and control.

Iran’s influence is getting reduced in Iraq as the country is growing.
You will need to give better evidence of your claim, not some posters hanged on a few walls here and there.
But as I said, you will admit everything in your benefit.

 

[Surenas]

Qusair!!??

The only thing you have been telling us is that Assad is going to fall, that Syria will be 'liberated' soon, while failing to substantiate your empty claims.

Assad is still there, and Iran is still controlling essential parts of Syria. Saudi has failed in their objections, to such extent, that they were willing to finance a US military operation in Syria, as Kerry told the US Senate on Foreign Relations.

Iran’s influence is getting reduced in Iraq as the country is growing.

Is that why every Middle East/Iraq expert is claiming otherwise? The fact that Iran has outmanevoured the US in Iraq, and that their influence is stronger than ever. Iraq and Iran are going to sign a military pact soon, which denotes the relations between both countries.

 

[Doritos11]

Is that why every Middle East/Iraq expert is claiming otherwise? The fact that Iran has outmanevoured the US in Iraq, and that their influence is stronger than ever. Iraq and Iran are going to sign a military pact soon, which denotes the relations between both countries.

That’s not a military pact but a MOU ( Memorandum of understanding ). This has been signed with Pakistan, USA who knows how many more countries, Kuwait as well. The reason for the presence of military commanders is the sensitive Iran-Iraq border oilfield shares/disputes, they need to agree on avoiding misunderstandings which can lead to clashes ( see 2009 Fakkah oil field ).
If you think Iraq is about to sign a military alliance with Iran then your delusional, they are staying away from that with all cost, staying neutral in the Syrian case is a part of that, Moqtada al Sadr former commander of the Mahdi army who put those Khamenei posters disagreed with Iran and Nasrallah on Syria, did not command to send anyone to Syria.

Iraq does not need Iran for anything, the country is growing fast, it’s military is growing fast, what do we need you for ? As well as the joke of Syria being the puppet of Iran as you have said, during the Iran-Iraq war what did Syria have to fear from Iran exactly ? Their choice is alliance with Iran.
Besides leave us of these "experts", they don’t even say what your saying here, I could bring some of these experts that say the opposite.

Still you are not able to show me anything that proves your words, so we end it that you just agree with everything powering Iran’s image ?


As for more information on this "military pact" when commanders of both countries met, news sources like Press TV and Farsnews report that Iraq is willing to buy Iranian arms, however these reports have been given from the same sources in 2007-2009 while they completely contradict Iraq’s stance and billions of dollar deals with the US. Acquiring Iranian weaponry means waving of US deals, so explain this contradiction by these laughable news sources. It also contradicts Iraq’s neutral policy.