Ever since Saudi Arabia announced that it had formed a new 34-nation 'Islamic coalition against terrorism', experts have been debating whether the new alliance will entangle itself in a military operation in Iraq and Syria. Recently, analytical website Iranian Diplomacy posed that very question to regional Iraqi official Ibrahim al-Jinabi.

Speaking to�the�resource, al-Jinabi, a member of�the Judicial Council of�Iraq's southwestern Anbar Governate (much of�which is presently occupied by�Daesh/ISIL terrorists) not only confirmed the possibility of�Saudi troops joining the conflict, but�suggested that this might happen in�the very near�future.
"The military component of�the Islamo-Arabic coalition recently formed by�Saudi Arabia intends to�take part in�the operation to�clear Anbar province," the lawmaker unambiguously noted


Asked whether the Riyadh's possible move has Washington's approval, al-Jinabi said that "this action by�Saudi authorities will be carried out�in accordance with�a new US policy in�Iraq, and is definitely coordinated with�US leaders."

As for�whether Baghdad will be informed, the official was less certain. "They might do so. They are certainly obliged to�inform the country's central government. Most likely, they will do so, but�if Baghdad suddenly expresses its disagreement with�such a move, it will not be able to�create any obstacles for�the new coalition."

The consequences of�Riyadh's adventure, al-Jinabi suggested, "would be turning Iraq into�an arena of�confrontation between�the great powers and the settling of�scores between�the US, Russia and their allies."
In such a scenario, the official warned, "countries such as�Russia and China will not just sit idly by. Of course, Russia will not be able to�fight the Islamic countries. However, Moscow will be certain to�support Iran's plans in�the region, because now Russian and Iranian interests converge. In other words, Russia will be able to�realize their interests through�Iran. It is also very likely that China also will support Russia and Iran on�this issue."



Asked about�the national makeup of�the forces which could participate in�such an operation, al-Jinabi noted that "the Arab-Islamic coalition is led by�two countries: Saudi Arabia, which provides it with�financial support, and Turkey, responsible for�the military component. This is why, when Turkish troops entered Iraqi territory, serious pressure began to�be exerted on�Baghdad in�order to�prevent it from�reacting and from�taking any action against�the Turks in�the framework of�regional and international organizations."

"We have all seen," the official noted, "how, after�the Saudis announced the establishment of�their Arab-Islamic coalition�Turkey agreed to�withdraw its troops from�Iraq." As for�the coalition itself, "we now know that it has received support from�the United States and Germany, whose representatives said that it would be good to�see the new alliance take part in�the war against�Daesh."
"However, Turkey earlier said that it would be ready to�take the fight to�the terrorists only if military forces from�other members of�the coalition also take part in�the war against�Daesh in�Iraq. Therefore, we are now seeing how [these forces] are preparing for�an intervention in�Iraq. In other words, the scenario of�foreign intervention is being repeated, except�this time, in�the place of�Turkish forces, Iraq will see the introduction of�Arab forces on�its territory."



For its part, al-Jinabi suggests, given that Ankara is also a member of�Riyadh's coalition, they too are likely to�deploy their forces to�Iraq once again.
Ultimately, the official noted, Washington may be deliberately contributing to�the Saudi-led effort by�stalling Iraqi security forces' efforts to�liberate their country from�terrorist forces. "America's new policy," al-Jibani said, "is to�refrain from�engaging in�direct confrontation. The US no longer intends to�use its own army to�take part in�any war, but�everywhere they can they will work to�serve as�their mediators."



By Sputnik