Islamic State claims car bomb blast in Saudi capital

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An explosion damaged a car in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported, an incident the Islamic State militant group said was caused by a bomb one of its members had affixed to the vehicle.

Saudi Arabia in 2014 declared Islamic State a terrorist organisation and has detained hundreds of its supporters. The group, which controls territory in Iraq and Syria, has staged a series of attacks in the kingdom.

A police spokesman said a citizen had reported that his car had been damaged by a blast on Monday while parked in front of his house in the city's Al-Azizia district, according to SPA. There were no injuries. Some nearby vehicles also were damaged.

In a statement released on the Telegram social messaging platform, Islamic State's Amaq news agency said the blast was caused by a "sticky bomb" attached to the vehicle of a member of the Saudi armed forces, the SITE monitoring service reported.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-blast-idUKKCN0VH1B5?rpc=401

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1. Saudi King Salman calls for others not to interfere in kingdom

Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Sunday called on other countries not to interfere in the kingdom's internal affairs in what appeared to be a rebuke to Riyadh's main foe Iran, which it accuses of attempting to stir unrest.

"It is our right to defend ourselves, without interfering in the affairs of others. We call on others to not interfere in our affairs," Salman said in a speech opening the annual Janadriya cultural festival in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported.

"We cooperate with our Arab and Muslim brothers in all areas in defending our lands and ensuring their independence and guarding their government systems as sanctioned by their peoples," he added.

Salman did not elaborate, but his remarks seemed aimed at Iran, which Riyadh accuses of destabilising Arab states and spreading sectarianism by backing militias in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen and fomenting unrest in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-security-idUKKCN0VG0S4?rpc=401

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2. To counter Iranian rival, Saudi Arabia steps up Washington lobbying

Washington — The slickly choreographed video is classic war propaganda: missiles destroying homes, bodies in a bombed-out crater, small children lie wounded on a hospital floor.

The video, distributed by Saudi-funded PR companies and shown to congressional staffers, then lays the blame for all the carnage and death on one country: Iran.

It’s part of a widening PR and lobbying campaign by Saudi Arabia to influence lawmakers and US media outlets. And it speaks to the frustrations of Saudi rulers with the Obama administration over last year’s nuclear deal with Iran and its policy in Syria.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2016/0208/To-counter-Iranian-rival-Saudi-Arabia-steps-up-Washington-lobbying

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3. Saudi Arabia is bringing Iran to its knees

On January 11, 2016, Iran’s official media confirmed the state had filled the Arak nuclear reactor core with concrete. In short: Iran has killed its flagship nuclear site and its nuclear program is now limited to smaller projects, paperwork, research and, of course, propaganda videos.

But how could this have happened? While the US-Iran nuclear deal does dictate that Iran must reduce the operational capacity of the Arak nuclear reactor in particular, nobody could have believed Iran would have jumped to execute this part of the deal so quickly. Iran has been known to never give up anything except for handsome rewards.

Iran’s “sweet surrender” would never have been possible without the sophisticated and determined pressure of one country; Saudi Arabia, and one man; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.

For years Saudi Arabia has been warning the West against the growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. What helps Saudi Arabia here is that it understands the region much better than many Western governments. When the revolution broke out in Syria in 2011, the West in particular dealt with it as local unrest, an armed revolution or a civil war at worst. Saudi Arabia understood clearly even then that Iran was on a mission to control Syria and turn it into terrorism export hub.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Saudi-Arabia-is-bringing-Iran-to-its-knees-444280

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4. Saudi-led troops to Syria — why not?

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The Yemeni government with the support of the Saudi-led alliance is winning in Yemen. A year ago, it was the other way around. The militia was on the verge of capturing Aden. Today, Sanaa is on the verge of being returned to the legitimate government.

More than 90 percent of Yemen is now under President Hadi’s rule. The development and rebuilding of the country has already started with the help of neighboring Gulf States. That is more of a success than what NATO could claim in Afghanistan, the US in Iraq and the International Alliance in Syria.

With such track record, Saudi Arabia and allies could go on with a good chance of success to fight terrorism in Syria. They suffered a great deal and had enough of terrorists. Daesh and Al-Qaeda had never attacked Iran, Russia, Israel or Bashar’s regime. In fact, Al-Qaeda headquarters have been based in Iran since 2002. Before and after, they have attacked Saudi Arabia and other Sunni countries repeatedly.

With or without the “axis of evil” permission, the world community will come together strong and united. Whether the “mothership” of terrorism (Iran) likes it or not, the international community will take the fight from its backyard to that of Daesh.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/opinion/saudi-led-troops-to-syria-why-not/

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5. Saudi Arabia says open to sending special forces into Syria

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday held out the possibility of sending Saudi special forces into Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State.

"There is a discussion with regard to a ground force contingent, or a special forces contingent, to operate in Syria by this international U.S.-led coalition against ISIS and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed its readiness to provide special forces to such operations should they occur," he said.

Al-Jubeir spoke to reporters after he met for the second day in a row with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Their talks focused on conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Al-Jubeir declined to say how many troops Saudi Arabia might be prepared to send.

Last week an adviser to the Saudi defense minister said Saudi Arabia was ready to participate in any ground operation in Syria but did not specify the possibility of sending special forces.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-saudi-idUSKCN0VH1YX?rpc=401