Saudi Arabia Cornered by Regional Adversaries as Conflict Escalates

Saudi Arabia has been attempting to avoid getting drawn into regional conflict for five months, but it now appears hemmed in on all sides.

The kingdom faces enemies in three directions: Iran and its proxies in Iraq and Yemen. In the last week, Saudi oil complexes were targeted by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, while drone attacks from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have also been reported.

On Tuesday, Saudi fighter jets, along with US planes, carried out strikes across eastern Iraq, but the stakes are high for Riyadh. Getting embroiled in a broader conflict would be a costly option, as it has invested heavily in modernizing its military and buying state-of-the-art missile defenses.