Alwaght-Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar are engaged in secret talks on a plan to launch a US-led military aggression on Syria.

According to sources, senior Riyadh and Doha officials are holding covert talks with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. He has been mandated with an insurmountable task of convincing all member states to form an alliance and eventually present a roadmap to the UN Security Council which will include a US-led military aggression on Syria.

This destructive plan will certainly be vetoed by influential members of this Pan-Arab body especially Egypt, Iraq and Algeria which have various forms of ties with the Syrian government. Therefore, at its initial phase any attempt by Aboul Gheit to convince these three governments will most likely fail.

Another factor is that, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition during its brutal invasion of Yemen in 2015 and this alliance is now in quite a messy quagmire in that impoverished Arab state. Therefore, Riyadh lacks the logistical and financial muscle to carry out an invasion on another country. The Saudi-led coalition has failed dismally in Yemen while that country has no direct foreign backing and only relies on local fighters to repel the aggression amid an inhuman blockade. The dynamics in Syria are quite different since President Bashar al Assad is backed by major powers including Iran, Russia and the Hezbollah resistance movement.  There is obvious doubt on the capability of the Saudis to manage any meaningful operation in the country.

World War III in the Offing?

If the Arab League is to carry out its plan of backing a US-led military aggression on Syria, this will practically lead to a world war especially since Russia has its forces inside the Arab country. In any case, , will the international community allow the Syrian conflict to lead to a new global war?

Will the UN Security Council whose five veto wielding members include Russia and China easily give in to Western powers intent on igniting a global conflict?

Early February this year, Russian prime minister warned that the involvement of foreign troops in Syria could result in a “new world war" following reports of plans by Saudi Arabia and its allies to potentially deploy ground troops there.

Dmitry Medvedev made the remarks in an interview with the German Handelsblatt business daily. He said all powers must sit at the negotiating table to forge an end to the conflict gripping Syria "instead of unleashing a new world war". "The Americans and our Arabic partners must think hard about this: do they want a permanent war?" Medvedev asked. The Russian premier also noted that it would be impossible to win such a war quickly, particularly in the Arab world, “where everybody is fighting against everybody.”

Saudi Regime Aspires to be a Major Actor in Syria

Considering the foregoing, any Saudi plan to involve the US in a direct military aggression on Syria is bound to face major challenges. Assuming the Saudis are cognizant of these challenges, then why are the still pursuing their plan?

The Saudi regime aspires to move from the peripheries of the Syrian conflict to being a major actor in the war-torn country and actually be at par with Iran in terms of influence. It remains to be seen if the desperate regime in Riyadh can attain this objective.

In trying to assert their influence, the Saudi and Turkish regimes have sent messages to Al Nusra Front and other Takfiri terrorist groups urging them refrain from escaping from of Aleppo amid a major offensive by Syrian forces. Ankara and Riyadh are reassuring the terrorists of their unequivocal support to ensure that Aleppo is not liberated since that eventuality will lead to major strategic changes in the Syria crisis.

By Alwaght