Middle East Conflict Megathread (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, etc)

[United Muscovite Nations]

Unconfirmed reports that American businessman Sam Hyde is behind the coup attempt

Uhhhh I'm going to assume you're talking about someone else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hyde

God damnit, let me have this.

[MERIZoC]

Unconfirmed reports that American businessman Sam Hyde is behind the coup attempt

Uhhhh I'm going to assume you're talking about someone else.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hyde

issa meme

[Aulus Maximus]

Reports of a coup attempt in Riyadh right now, heavy gunfire going on

I guess the reforms went too quick for the Ulema. Wouldnt be suprised if the Ulema seizes power and installs a friendly prince to them.

[Aulus Maximus]

Some reports indicate that the shooting erupted when the palace guards targeted a small drone which came too close to the king’s residence.

[Socialist Czechia]

I don't see any way it could benefit Arabia, as it would still be a 'family matter'. Only the revolution and end of all the Saudis, by using whatever means necessary.

[Aulus Maximus]

I don't see any way it could benefit Arabia, as it would still be a 'family matter'. Only the revolution and end of all the Saudis, by using whatever means necessary.

The only revolution I'd see now is the one of the Ulema. Lots of Shaykhs, conservative ones, have been imprisoned last months.

[Socialist Czechia]

Still nothing on Reuters, but it popped this now:

Gunmen shoot dead Palestinian lecturer in Malaysia

Two unidentified men shot dead a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Malaysian and Palestinian authorities reported, and Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service.

I say this part of world starts to be powder keg. Lots of terrorism and egdyism already happened here.

[Ascysia]

Apparently a toy drone required every gun in the capital to start firing. I don't buy this "no coup" bullshit.

[Socialist Czechia]

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian security forces shot down a toy drone in the capital Riyadh on Saturday, a senior Saudi official and the state news agency said, after videos were posted online showing gunfire in a neighborhood where a royal palace is located.

A spokesman for the Riyadh police said forces at a checkpoint in the Khozama district identified the drone and “dealt with it according to their orders”, state news said without specifying if there were any injuries or damage.

[Western-Ukraine]

Still nothing on Reuters, but it popped this now:

Gunmen shoot dead Palestinian lecturer in Malaysia

Two unidentified men shot dead a Palestinian man in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Malaysian and Palestinian authorities reported, and Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service.

I say this part of world starts to be powder keg. Lots of terrorism and egdyism already happened here.

I doubt that. If it's Israel behind this, Mossad has done things like these countless times before in other places. Malaysia just happened to be where it happened.

[The Empire of Pretantia]

Unconfirmed reports that American businessman Sam Hyde is behind the coup attempt

He can't keep getting away with this!

[Aulus Maximus]

Just another coup hype.

[Pilarcraft]

Reports of a coup attempt in Riyadh right now, heavy gunfire going on

By who?

I think the official story is that it was a rival branch of the Same Royal Family

[Yanitza]

Reports of a coup attempt in Riyadh right now, heavy gunfire going on

I guess the reforms went too quick for the Ulema. Wouldnt be suprised if the Ulema seizes power and installs a friendly prince to them.

The Saudi monarchs have always kept a tight leash on the ulema haven't they, although they certainly tried to appease them especially after events like the Mecca siege, they haven't been shy about cracking down on Shaykhs before. Don't know whether they would orchestrate a coup themselves, although I guess an alliance with a section of the royal family is possible.

[Aulus Maximus]

I guess the reforms went too quick for the Ulema. Wouldnt be suprised if the Ulema seizes power and installs a friendly prince to them.

The Saudi monarchs have always kept a tight leash on the ulema haven't they, although they certainly tried to appease them especially after events like the Mecca siege, they haven't been shy about cracking down on Shaykhs before. Don't know whether they would orchestrate a coup themselves, although I guess an alliance with a section of the royal family is possible.

It was just a drone though.

[Pilarcraft]

The Saudi monarchs have always kept a tight leash on the ulema haven't they, although they certainly tried to appease them especially after events like the Mecca siege, they haven't been shy about cracking down on Shaykhs before. Don't know whether they would orchestrate a coup themselves, although I guess an alliance with a section of the royal family is possible.

It was just a drone though.

there were gunmen too. seven people died in the shootout that followed.

[Fahran]

I don't see any way it could benefit Arabia, as it would still be a 'family matter'. Only the revolution and end of all the Saudis, by using whatever means necessary.

Personally, I'd prefer the present crown prince over a bloody revolution. An ideological revolution certainly isn't necessary.

I say this part of world starts to be powder keg. Lots of terrorism and egdyism already happened here.

Israel has assassinated Palestinian officials and activists in the past. The gentleman in question was an active contributor to the Palestinian rocket program and was quite brilliant by all accounts. Neutralizing him weakened the ability of Israel's enemies to operate at the same level of effectiveness and stymied progress on their war-related technologies.

[Corneliu Zelea Codreanu]

God bless Assad.

[Fahran]

God bless Assad.

He's a lackluster leader at best.

[Phoenicaea]

God bless Assad.

sent 'em at Him as soon, this afternoon I feal it as your heaven can t wait.

[The Knockout Gun Gals]

I don't see any way it could benefit Arabia, as it would still be a 'family matter'. Only the revolution and end of all the Saudis, by using whatever means necessary.

But the current Crown Prince is way too reforms-friendly and moderate for the Ulemas, who have been a very strong faction with conservative, closer to traditional Islam. But they also have to understand that without those reforms, Saudi will be relying on oil even when the prices going cheaper and cheaper. Diversification of economy is needed, and reforms for freer women's access and tourism will be good for them. Especially cinemas, since the Saudis used to go to Bahrain to filled their thirst for movies.

God bless Assad.

He's a lackluster leader at best.

He's also the person that keeps Syria from falling to factions which may or may not have the best interest of the Syrians.

[Baltenstein]

He's also the person that keeps Syria from falling to factions which may or may not have the best interest of the Syrians.

Well, Syria did fall apart into factions on Assad's watch. He's only been able to pick up the pieces with foreign help.

[Socialist Czechia]

He's also the person that keeps Syria from falling to factions which may or may not have the best interest of the Syrians.

Well, Syria did fall apart into factions on Assad's watch. He's only been able to pick up the pieces with foreign help.

And still, he's alive and in power after 7 years of warfare. Other guys like him, in Libya, Egypt or Tunisia, didn't get so far.
Troubles in Syria were, in addition, hugely bolstered by U.S. Made chaos in Iraq.

Even he was removed/butchered from the start, Libya proves it's no guarantee it would get better.

[Fahran]

He's also the person that keeps Syria from falling to factions which may or may not have the best interest of the Syrians.

That's the tragedy in Syria. A more able leader would have shrewdly defused the situation by giving them a democracy in which he was certain to emerge as president or seized as many ringleaders as possible and had them executed. Putin does the first one regularly, even if it does entail appeasing some of the oligarchs and retaining the people's high opinion. Hafez Assad did the second one back when he crushed the Muslim Brotherhood and staved any further talk of rebellion for around thirty years. Assad created much of this problem through his mediocrity. A pity, since he strikes me as a nice enough person. And, yes, horrible dictators can be nice people. They seldom are, but it's possible. Look at Nicholas II.

[The Knockout Gun Gals]

Well, Syria did fall apart into factions on Assad's watch. He's only been able to pick up the pieces with foreign help.

And still, he's alive and in power after 7 years of warfare. Other guys like him, in Libya, Egypt or Tunisia, didn't get so far.
Troubles in Syria were, in addition, hugely bolstered by U.S. Made chaos in Iraq.

Even he was removed/butchered from the start, Libya proves it's no guarantee it would get better.

Which is why that no matter how it is not the best solution that we have, it is the only best solution available to keep Syria from becoming like Libya or Iraq after US left Iraq, which let a vacuum of power in spite of the Iraqi's government at that time.

Assad is also loved by the Syrians, which is going to make more tragedy if Western forces decided that Assad needs to go.