In his new article, Abdul Bari Atwan examines the motives behind the sharp attack by the Saudi representative to the UN against Syria.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency International Group, in his new article, Abdul Bari Atwan, a prominent analyst in the Arab world and editor-in-chief of the Rai Al-Youm newspaper, examines the motives behind Saudi Arabia’s intense offensive against Syria and Damascus’ approach to the issue. Last week, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abdullah al-Moallem, launched a crackdown on Lebanese Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Atwan continued his article, but Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar al-Jaafari, his country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, responded well to his Saudi counterpart in an interview with Al-Mayadin a few days ago. Al-Jaafari stressed in an interview with Al-Mayadin that Syria is too big to deal with a Saudi employee or anyone else.
The prominent Arabic-language analyst continued, it is certain that the Saudi representative to the United Nations would not carry out such a sharp attack on Syria without his country’s green light. At a time when relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria were at a calming stage and had reached the point of reopening embassies in the two countries, this sudden change of position is questionable. The noteworthy point in this issue and the scholarly attack against Bashar al-Assad, in addition to its timing, was related to the content of the Saudi representative’s speech, which was expressed contrary to the common diplomatic etiquette and standards between the countries.
According to the article, a large Saudi security delegation led by Saudi intelligence chief Khaled al-Hamidan traveled to Damascus a few months ago to meet with Bashar al-Assad and Ali Mamluk, head of the Syrian National Security Agency. The issue sparked a wave of optimism about reviving relations between Riyadh and Damascus, and there was talk of reopening embassies on both sides and putting aside disputes, even temporarily.
Abdul Bari Atwan added, but the reasons for this sudden attack by Saudi Arabia against Syria and its president can be examined on several levels, and we were able to reach conclusions by contacting Syrian sources close to the decision-making circles in Damascus:
Saudi Arabia, especially its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is now the real ruler of the country, is angry with Syria; Because he believes that Syria had asked Suleiman Franjieh, the head of the Al-Marda faction and Damascus’ ally in Lebanon, to nominate “George Qardahi” as the media minister of the new Lebanese cabinet when the Lebanese government is formed.
Rapid improvement in Syria-UAE relations as relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi deteriorate, as well as the visit of UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to Damascus, the official invitation of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed to Bashar al-Assad to visit the UAE, and the phone call between Muhammad bin Zayed and Bashar al-Assad was not to the liking of Saudi Arabia; Because Riyadh always wants to be the leader of the Arab-Islamic countries and to be a leader in every issue.
A strong and meaningful article by Dr. “Batina Shaaban”, an adviser to the Syrian president, published on the Al-Mayadin website, in which he supported George Qardahi’s position and stressed that Qardahi’s resignation will succeed Saudi pressure in the future to remove other Lebanese government ministers It provoked the anger of the Saudis.
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There are several unofficial reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mohammed bin Salman met during a simultaneous visit to Qatar, and one of the most obvious results of this meeting was the re-establishment of the Turkish-Saudi coalition against Syria and the opening of a fire.
An informed source in this regard stated in an interview with Rai Al-Youm newspaper, Syrian officials were surprised by the severity of Abdullah al-Moallem’s attack on the country, but preferred not to escalate the media war until the main targets of the attack were identified.
Abdul Bari Atwan’s article goes on to say that Syria’s support for George Qardahi is neither strange nor reprehensible; because this man stood with his positions in the media against a conspiracy aimed at the disintegration of Syria and the overthrow of the Syrian regime. Saudi officials are currently in a state of tension and confusion; because these days they are under pressure from many sides, the first of which is related to the developments in the Yemeni war, and especially the battle of Ma’rib; where the situation is by no means what Riyadh means.
According to Atwan, the next issue that has caused great concern to Saudi officials these days is Washington’s anger at the country as a result of the revelation of Riyadh and Beijing’s cooperation in the production of ballistic missiles. Another factor of Saudi concern is the Vienna talks.
In his previous article, Atwan stressed that it is also unlikely that the new Saudi leadership will resume its armed and financial support for the Syrian opposition if the new coup is serious in its relations with Syria and President Assad; unless this “arrogance” (attack by the Saudi representative to the UN against Bashar al-Assad) is a kind of political “frivolity” that has become one of the basic principles of some policies of Saudi Arabia and the countries bordering the Persian Gulf.