Will Saudi Arabia Attack Iran?
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been rising over the last few years, raising the likelihood of a military confrontation!! Since 2015 Saudi Arabia has been parted of a proxy war in Yemen with Iran taking an increasingly hardline stance against their presence there. Furthermore both countries have been engaged in an intense verbal battle which both sides accuse each other of destabilizing the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are currently at loggerheads after Jamal Khashoggi a Saudi journalist was assassinated at the consulate in Istanbul 🇸🇦 🇮🇷 ️. The Saudi government claims Khashoggi was assassinated by rogue agents, but Western intelligence agencies point to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 🇸🇦 👑 🤴. This has increased tensions between Saudi Arabian and Iranian governments, making it possible for a direct military conflict.
So will Saudi Arabia launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran? The answer depends largely on the regional balance of power and the military capabilities of both countries 🇸🇦 🔛 ️. Saudi Arabia has a formidable military, having invested heavily in modern weaponry, and training in the past decade. The Saudi armed forces are well-equipped with advanced aircraft, tanks, and other military hardware. Additionally Saudi Arabia has the support of other regional allies like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain who are both firmly in its corner.
Iran, on the other hand, has its own formidable military capabilities. The Iranian armed forces are well-trained, battle-hardened, and possess a plethora of sophisticated weapons ️. Iran’s missile program has also been the subject of much concern in the region, with its missiles able to reach Saudi Arabia and other US allies 🇸🇦 🇺🇸.
For Saudi Arabia to launch an attack on Iran, it would likely need outside support. The United States has been a powerful ally of Saudi Arabia but its support is not unconditional. President Trump has been critical of the Saudi government particularly since the assassination of Khashoggi and US forces have been withdrawing from the region. Additionally, the US has close ties with Israel, one of Iran’s longtime adversaries, and any US military intervention in the region could be seen as a threat to Israeli security 🇺🇸 ️ 1️⃣.
Ultimately it is highly unlikely that Saudi Arabia would launch an attack on Iran without broad international support. Such an action would be met with intense condemnation from the international community increasing the risk of war. Additionally an attack would destabilize the entire region with Iran able to hit back with its own military capability.
At the same time, it is clear that the regional tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran is unlikely to subside anytime soon. Iran’s regional influence continues to grow and its hardline stance on regional issues is unlikely to change. The United States and its allies must take bold and decisive action to prevent a direct military confrontation between the two countries, before it is too late ️ 2️⃣. . .
🇸🇦 🔛 🇧🇭 👑 ️ 🇺🇸 🇾🇪 🔙 🇮🇷 2️⃣ 🌍 🤴 1️⃣
