Saudi Arabia Faces Escalating Regional Threats

Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, which has been trying to keep itself away from the escalating conflict in West Asia for the past five months, now appears to be drawn into the center of the war.

Saudi Arabia, which has adopted a policy of reducing regional tensions by maintaining diplomatic contact with Iran, is now facing security challenges simultaneously from Iran, Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups, and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Analysts say that recent developments have forced Saudi Arabia to move from merely defending itself to direct military action.