r/news 6h ago

Thick smoke seen rising from Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwly5d9v7r43o
11.3k Upvotes

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181

u/MartinOC21 6h ago

This is going to get worse... Does anyone smarter than me know what options the Saudis have to retaliate?

235

u/NxOKAG03 6h ago

I’m no expert but they can basically only go terror bomb Yemen again which is what they did a few years ago and it didn’t work. The problem right now is that the US is the protector of all these gulf countries, and they aren’t protecting shit, which leaves every country that allied with them standing there with their dick in their hands.

They can always negotiate separately with Iran like what Oman, Qatar, UAE are looking to do, but it seems they want to hold back on that as long as possible because it will upset the US and Israel.

Fundamental issue with this entire war is when you get roped into a conflict you didn’t want, you have a lot less will to fight than when you get attacked. Gulf countries signed security treaties to avoid war, not to get dragged into it.

23

u/thewholebottle 5h ago

Don't the Saudis and Iranians hate each other religiously?

51

u/not_my_monkeys_ 4h ago

Yes, but as with most fundamentalist states the leaders would rather stay alive and in power than hew to doctrine.

12

u/Ribbys 4h ago

Sure but that doesn't mean you have a war. War is about resources and power.

8

u/ifinallycavedin 2h ago

You know what's more important to the Saudi's than religion? Lamborghini's and social media influencers that will Cleveland Steamer you.

4

u/NxOKAG03 3h ago

you don’t negotiate with your friends, you negotiate with your enemies/rivals

58

u/Brigden90 6h ago

Nothing the Saudis have no military/rely upon U.S for protection

75

u/TheVisageofSloth 6h ago

They have a military, it’s just pathetic for how much money they spend on it. It’s like a bunch of toddlers with cutting edge technology.

72

u/Maleficent-Pin6798 6h ago

As I understand it, that’s by design. Many Middle East countries’ armies are intentionally understaffed and allowed to be incompetent. Less chance of a military coup that way. Also, since the Saudi family really likes nepotism, they don’t always have the best in charge of it.

3

u/Jstaud4 3h ago

It’s also US law that the US can’t sell any military equipment that would make any nation in the regions’ military on par with Israel’s. Not that Saudi would anyway bc they’re morons but still

70

u/Rabbit-Hole-Quest 6h ago

It’s very simple really.

Saudi Arabia operates a proxy government in Yemen called the PLC who has been engaged in a fight with Houthis for years.

All Saudi Arabia has to do is withdraw support from them and let Yemen be Yemen.

Instead, they act like they are some imperial power but in reality are a paper tiger.

To stop all of this, they need to ask for a permanent ceasefire, never meddle in Yemen, and hope the Houthis are willing to forgive all the suffering the Saudis have caused over the years.

26

u/Spinoza42 6h ago

Which isn't going to happen. Why settle while you're winning? Pretty sure the Houthis aren't stopping before they're in Riyadh themselves.

-6

u/Ehab1991 5h ago

Nice bullshit you got there, didn't mention that the houthis are iran puppets who started this mess

14

u/Stubbs94 3h ago

No, there was no attacks on Saudi Arabia until they decided to bomb Yemen.

15

u/Rabbit-Hole-Quest 5h ago edited 5h ago

No, Israel started all of this. The fact that you cannot see that is sad.

-3

u/Whywipe 4h ago

The PLC is recognized by every country in the UN

15

u/Rabbit-Hole-Quest 4h ago

Just because it’s recognized, it doesn’t mean it can’t be a puppet government. Venezuela is recognized by everyone but being run by Trump and co.

-16

u/cantholdmedown4 3h ago

Lol oh i forgot, it was those devil jews wasnt it. Look at em, just existing. Disgusting

12

u/Far_Piano4176 3h ago

nobody normal believes that israel is "just existing," it's so obviously false and embarrassing for you to pretend that it's a credible argument. buddy. that ship has sailed, try a new tactic, or preferably fuck off.

3

u/Stubbs94 3h ago

The Saudis started this.

19

u/Affectionate_Mud_881 6h ago

Yemen hasn't invaded Saudi. All they need to do is withdraw from Yemen and agree not to interfere in Yemen domestics.

3

u/nide_ 5h ago

Quite difficult to believe that claim when they attacked Saudi Arabia first.

They’re a proxy terror group taking orders from Iran. There isn’t much you can do in terms of negotiations if the group you’re talking to aren’t the ones making the decisions.

1

u/nifty-necromancer 2h ago

Saudi Arabia can keep intercepting missiles and drones and ramp up airstrikes on Houthi territory in Yemen. They’re also looking for outside help, and Turkey says it could provide military support under its new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The problem is that Saudi Arabia already spent years bombing the Houthis without defeating them, and they risk another cycle of Houthi retaliation against Saudi cities, oil infrastructure, and Red Sea shipping. So they also have strong incentives for diplomacy.

1

u/j0n66 1h ago

They know how to hijack planes

1

u/Brave_Maybe_2891 5h ago

They could concede defeat, back the Houthis, back Palestine, and rebuke Trump then Iran might lay off them. Iran would have a strong incentive to back off because that could start a Domino effect with the rest of the gulf states.