Israel Warily Tracking Tensions Between Iran and Saudi Arabia

Israeli defense and intelligence officials were warily watching this week as tensions between Middle East regional powers Iran and Saudi Arabia continued to escalate. Meanwhile, offers to mediate between the two have come from Western diplomats as well as regional neighbors, including Turkey and Iraq. Fears have been expressed by officials from several nations that the warming of the longstanding frozen conflict between Riyadh and Teheran will become a costly distraction from the battle against the Islamic State (IS) terror militia and other pressing problems. Shi’ite groups, including powerful armed militias, rallied against Saudi Arabia in Baghdad on Wednesday, with one militia leader threatening to “take escalating measures” if the Saudi embassy was allowed to remain open. Read More >>