With US Encouragement Will Saudi Arabia & Israel Escalate Regionally ?

Because I don't think Lebanon is the sole target here. King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (L) shakes hands with former Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri (R) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 6 November 2017With US Encouragement Will Saudi Arabia & Israel Escalate Regionally? While the US stands, feet firmly planted behind both participants, encouraging them to begin escalation, in order for the US to‘step in’ & save the day’. Save the world. Keep the peace. Whichever lie you prefer to believe? Makes no difference to me.Interesting oped: Syrian endgame forces Israel and Saudi hands

The Syrian conflict is rapidly coming to a conclusion, as demonstrated by the government’s retaking of the strategic Deir Ez-Zor province. The Syrian government has pressed home its advantage by wresting control of the border town of Abu Kamal away from Daesh.

The retaking of Abu Kamal is critically important at many levels, not least because it points to passive acquiescence by the United States to the eastward march of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies. Previously the US had appeared to be committed to denying Syria the opportunity to retake the eastern part of the country.

 Why might the US have passively acquiesced? Was it because they wanted Saudi Arabia and Israel to step up? Was that the plan? Quite possibly! I don't believe for one minute the US has strayed from the remake the region goal

The retaking of the most strategic part of the border with Iraq is also important in a regional context, especially as Iraq has just retaken the border town of Al-Qaim from Daesh. The Shia-led militias on the Iraqi side of the border (organised as Popular Mobilisation Units) are the ideological compatriots of the militias allied to the SAA on the Syrian side of the border. Hence, the operations on both sides of the border are being correctly interpreted as a significant gain for Iran.

 It is this sudden surge – and the apparent inability of the US to stop it – that has rattled Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Syrian War is concluding on Iran’s terms and we should expect a higher level of regional instability as Israel and Saudi Arabia struggle to come to terms with this reality.

Yes, I'm like a broken record with the meaning of words. The choice of "apparent" is interesting.

Apparent means obvious, but — and this is confusing — it can also mean something that seems to be true but isn't definite. 

Therefore the apparent inability of the US to stop the advances of SAA does not tell us the US was unable to stop the advance, though it appears that way. I suggest the US had other plans. Trump & Wife: Saudi Arabia, May 20/2017

Lebanon: the next regional flashpoint?

The resignation of former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri whilst on an unscheduled visit to Saudi Arabia caught observers by surprise, prompting widespread speculation that Hariri’s hand had been forced by his Saudi hosts. The resignation was all the more surprising in view of growing cohesion in Lebanese politics, as demonstrated by Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s warning to Israel that “all the Lebanese” will resist the next Israel invasion, just two days before Hariri’s resignation.

Keeping in mind the July Saudi visit of one PMU leader Sadr:Flashback : The Shia Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr Met Crown Prince Mohammed bin SalmanWhat party would not want to see cohesion in Lebanese politics? I'd say Israel had the most to lose from Lebanese cohesion, wouldn't you?

The least speculative conclusion to draw at this stage is that the Saudis moved to rupture growing Lebanese unity which would inevitably benefit Hezbollah and by extension Iran. The prospect of large-scale Israeli aggression against Lebanon cannot be ruled out, as like Saudi Arabia, Israel has effectively lost in Syria.

As Syria begins to recover from the six-year long proxy conflict, it is demonstrating growing confidence in combatting Israeli aggression and constant violations of its sovereignty. In the latest incident Syrian air defences reportedly targeted Israeli war planes over Lebanon, before they were attacked by Israeli jets.

In view of the volatility of the area – with the occupied Golan Heights and the occupied Shebaa Farms sitting on powder kegs – even proportionate responses by the Syrians and Hezbollah to Israeli violations may prompt a disproportionate Israeli counter-response, which may in turn touch off a much wider conflict.

 Flashback: Friday, November 3, 2017- IDF to "Defend" Druze Village in Syrian Territory

Yes, Israel is going to generously "defend" a village that is outside of the UN Disengagement Zone, governed by Syria, against jihadis. Their jihadis of course.That's called a foot in the door......... 

Op-ed Continued

While Saudi Arabia has much to gain from an Israeli assault on Lebanon, it is not necessarily counting on it. Despite threatening destruction on Lebanon in the next war, there is an expectation that cooler heads will prevail in Tel Aviv, at least for the foreseeable future. Israel risks a major setback (possibly on a bigger scale than the Summer 2006 War) by starting a war at a time when its Syrian and Lebanese enemies enjoy unprecedented strategic momentum.

The analytical community appears to be more or less united in anticipating bold moves by Saudi Arabia in Lebanon. After all, Saudi Arabia wields considerable influence in Lebanon and could cause major pain for the Lebanese economy if it cuts back on investments or potentially by going even further by imposing a Qatar-style blockade on Lebanon.

Saudi’s empty hand

The apparently forced resignation of the Lebanese prime minister coincided with a massive purge inside Saudi Arabia as Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) attempts to wipe out internal opposition to his authority. MBS’ increasingly bold moves, both domestically and regionally, appear to be motivated in large measure by his confidence in US President Donald Trump’s strong support.

Flashback: War Footings? Saudi Arabia: Mass Purge = Power ConsolidationFlashback:  Saad Harriri Informed of Assassination Plot Before Resignation? Getting down to the nitty gritty of the op-ed

The implication is clear: if MBS is intent on escalation then Iran has plenty of options to hit back where it really hurts. But the Saudis must grapple with difficult strategic and political problems as they pursue escalation. For a start, absent strong and consistent US support, Saudi Arabia stands little chance of arresting Iran’s strategic momentum, let alone containing the Islamic Republic. Moreover, in the event of a rapid escalation, Saudi Arabia cannot sustain a military confrontation with Iran unless the US steps in to save the day.

"Moreover, in the event of a rapid escalation, Saudi Arabia cannot sustain a military confrontation with Iran unless the US steps in to save the day."This is exactly what the US has planned. This is what they want. That's how I'm calling it right now!Recall from the Saudi consolidation of power post?

"President Trump on Sunday appeared to give a tacit endorsement of the arrests in a phone call with King Salman. A White House summary of the call contained no references to the arrests, and said Mr. Trump had praised Crown Prince Mohammed for other matters."  

 Increased escalation related to the instability in Iraq's kurdish region and delivery of weapons to SDF

• The PMU(F) & Iraq’s Future: Deal With PKK in Kirkuk.

• US Sends Even More Weapons to YPG/PKK aka "SDF"

• Pt.1: Reports of Kurdistan's Death are Greatly Exaggerated: Intra Kurdish Conflict 

• Pt.2: Reports of Kurdistan's Death are Greatly Exaggerated: All Eggs Not Exclusive to Barzani

• US Lauds Barzani Step Down. Did the USencourage Barzani’s Fall From Power ?