Iran might be preparing to attack Saudi Arabia
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Sulaiman
- . November 2, 2022
- . Update: November 11, 2022 1:06 am
Saudi Arabia has shared intelligence with officials in Washington suggesting that Iran could be preparing for an imminent attack on the KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), confirmed three U.S. officials on Tuesday. “We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis,” the National Security Council said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to act in the defense of our interests and partners in the region.”
The concerns over attacks on KSA come as Biden administration has continued to raise criticism over regime in Tehran for its violent crackdown on widespread protests and also for its support to Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Citing officials in Saudi Arabia and US, the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries in the Middle East have increased the level of alert for their military forces. It was later reported by The Associated Press, quoting a US official, that an attack could take place “soon or within 48 hours”. The Associated Press had contacted Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary about the intelligence allegedly shared by Saudi officials. To this he said the U.S. military officials “are concerned about the threat situation in the region.”
“We’re in regular contact with our Saudi partners, in terms of what information they may have to provide on that front,” Ryder said. “But what we’ve said before, and I’ll repeat it, is that we will reserve the right to protect and defend ourselves no matter where our forces are serving, whether in Iraq or elsewhere.”
Read | Iran plans public trials for 1,000 protesters in Tehran
Republican Senator Joni Ernst has taken this opportunity to criticize the Biden administration, noting the approximately 3,000 US servicemembers who are currently stationed in Saudi Arabia. Ernst has accused Democrats of advocating to remove air and missile defense units, “risking the lives of US citizens & our troops alike.”
🧵U.S. currently has approx. 3,000 servicemembers stationed in Saudi Arabia. While Iran prepares for an attack on our partners, leading Dems are advocating for removing key air & missile defense units, risking the lives of U.S. citizens & our troops alike. https://t.co/Az6PTFZrUT
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) November 1, 2022
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps head, Hossein Salami, had last month threatened Saudi Arabia and had said that the Kingdom should “be careful.” Salami claimed that “Riyadh was provoking the anti-government protests” that have rocked Iran and the regime over past month.
