Iran is a bigger threat and Saudi hates Iran so they are useful
The enemy of our enemy isn't necessarily our friend though. Saudi Arabia has way too many human rights violations to consider being allies. Look, if they valued human rights at all, I'd consider it, but they don't.
Plenty of countries have human rights violations.
First, not so much with American allies, and second, Saudi Arabia is particularly bad. Secret police, kidnapping, murder of an American green card holder, no rights for women, and I could go on. When a country is that bad, and has no hold over us, I have no interest in allying with them.
When the bigger enemy in the area is deemed a threat it takes most of the middle east to stand up to them. Iran is that threat.
Sure, but militarily, Saudi Arabia is useless at fighting, and they have a horrible government. It's not worth it.
Yes and no.
Would you rather Iran win and take full control for a unified force against Isrteal with worse?
Knowledgeispower
Ah I love the smell of missile spam in the morning
I will note that the main threat of the Iranians is their army and all the terrorists under their influence/control not so much their airforce or navy.
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Houthis launched a bomb drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport. Despite reportedly shooting down two of the incoming drones, a civilian plane was set ablaze during the attack. There are as of yet no reports of other casualties.
Plane catches fire after Houthis attack Abha airport: Saudi TV
Yemen’s Houthi rebels battling Saudi-led coalition claim responsibility for drone attack on airport in kingdom’s south.www.aljazeera.com
Houthi forces took credit for the attack as retaliation for the Saudi Involvement in the ongoing Yemen Civil War.
Last Thursday Joe Biden announced the US would be removing US support for the Saudi Offensives operations into Yemen.
Apparently these explosive drone attacks are extremely common now. There have been five attempted attacks on Saudi Arabian airbases in the past four days, with the notable success on Wednesday which set a civilian plane ablaze.
Saudi coalition says destroyed drones in attack Houthis say hit airport
A Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said it destroyed two explosives fired into Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon in an attack the Houthis said hit Abha airport in the kingdom's south.
www.reuters.com
It is not nearly as simple as that, you can't make decisions like that in a vacuum, the whole region's politics are tied in this. The recent warming of relations between Israel and Gulf States is happening specifically because of the strategic considerations realignment in the governments of the latter - catering to the "Arab Street" and its extremes is becoming less tenable for them with western powers' interest into the islamist problem plus islamist's own plans towards these governments being demonstrated (see: ISIL). Meanwhile, their other mortal threat, which also happens to be Israel's concern, are more or less proxy based ambitions of the local Shia theocracy.
You may not need SA for its oil now, but the question of whether its oil flows or not still has massive impact on the global oil market prices and the fortunes many US allies and enemies alike (see: Russia's budget shortages, much welcomed massive boost to all these sanctions).
SA did not recognize Israel yet, but it is visibly closer to that than it was ever before.
Overall, if you want to limit friendly deals and alliances only to countries that are "nice" internally and externally, USA pretty much limits itself in that only to some majority of current allies, necessitating isolationist policy towards the rest of the world. I doubt US political establishment could manage such 80% isolationist policy and resist all temptations to make exceptions even if it had the willingness to be this isolationist and pay the price for it, which with current political environment and administration clearly isn't the case.
Turkey, during a cross border offensive into Iraq against PKK positions (something they've been doing since 1991 IIRC) uncovered thirteen dead Turkish civilians in one of the PKK hideouts during the operation in which allegedly 48 PKK fighters and 3 Turkish soldiers were killed.
www.aljazeera.com
As reported by AP News sources, Erdogan also holds the United States to blame for this revelation.
Turkish army says 13 civilians killed as anti-PKK operation ends
Defence chief Hulusi Akar says 48 PKK fighters killed in clashes, with 13 Turkish civilians found dead in a hideout.
As reported by AP News sources, Erdogan also holds the United States to blame for this revelation.
AP News said:
A rocket attack took place near Erbil in Northern Iraq resulting in the death of one US Contractor and five others injured including a US Servicemember.
A group calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam ("Guardians of Blood") claimed responsibility for the attack on the U.S.-led base but offered no evidence in support.
Its the deadliest attack for Americans in over a year in that country.
www.foxnews.com
A group calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam ("Guardians of Blood") claimed responsibility for the attack on the U.S.-led base but offered no evidence in support.
Its the deadliest attack for Americans in over a year in that country.
Iraq rocket attack kills contractor, wounds US service member, coalition says
A rocket attack at a U.S.-led military base in Kurdish northern Iraq on Monday killed a civilian contractor and wounded five other people including a U.S. service member, according to initial reports, the U.S. coalition in Iraq said.
www.foxnews.com
Jen Psaki strangely declined to call Israel an ally when asked if Israel is considered an ally.
Also according to news reports, this is the longest time since at least the Reagan era that a US President has gone without contract the Israeli Prime Minister.
freebeacon.com
Also according to news reports, this is the longest time since at least the Reagan era that a US President has gone without contract the Israeli Prime Minister.
Biden Makes History: First President in 40 Years to Punt on Contacting Israel
President Joe Biden is the first American leader in 40 years to not contact Israel’s leaders as one of his first actions in the White House, setting up what could be four years of chilly relations between America and its top Middle East ally.
freebeacon.com
Some neat things I discovered while trawling through Twitter.
The PKK is using paragliders to infiltrate Turkish perimeters. The Turks alledged as much (paragliders had been used by smugglers around the world after all but it mostly got them (well deserved) lulz) back in October. It seems rather confirmed now.
And furthermore, it turns out Turkey doesn't have complete mastery of drone warfare in the skies. The same PKK unit that has been utilizing the Paragliders for infiltration has also been using simple drones to drop grenades on formations of Turkish troops during their operations in Northern Iraq.
The PKK is using paragliders to infiltrate Turkish perimeters. The Turks alledged as much (paragliders had been used by smugglers around the world after all but it mostly got them (well deserved) lulz) back in October. It seems rather confirmed now.
And furthermore, it turns out Turkey doesn't have complete mastery of drone warfare in the skies. The same PKK unit that has been utilizing the Paragliders for infiltration has also been using simple drones to drop grenades on formations of Turkish troops during their operations in Northern Iraq.
PsihoKekec
Swashbuckling Accountant
ISIL was doing the same to Kurds and Iraqis, they used M-203 rounds (probably M433) with tweaked fuzes and stabilization fins. Could these be VOG-17 rounds they are using (can't get a good still shot)?
Knowledgeispower
Ah I love the smell of missile spam in the morning
Welp Israel is definitely going to be ordering another 25 F-35s and 4 KC-46s and is planning on another ordering 25ish F-15s presumably of the EX variant.
Here's the source: Israeli air force to buy refueling aircraft, 25 more F-35 fighter jets
Here's the source: Israeli air force to buy refueling aircraft, 25 more F-35 fighter jets
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Arch Dornan
Oh, lovely. They've sent me a mo-ron.
Greece To Sign Agreement To Transfer And Operate Patriot Anti-aircraft System In Saudi Arabia
Greece will sign an agreement with Saudi Arabia for the transfer, installation and operation of a Greek Patriot anti-aircraft system, said Foreign Minister
greekcitytimes.com
U.S. air strikes in Syria target Iranian-backed militia - Pentagon
The United States carried out air strikes authorised by President Joe Biden against facilities belonging to Iranian-backed militia in eastern Syria on Thursday, in response to rocket attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq, the Pentagon said.
www.reuters.com
The United States just carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Syria, reportedly in response to similar fatal attacks upon US troops in Iraq allegedly perpetrated by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
