Saudi Arabia looks to mobilise foreign militaries against Iran

Saudi Arabia hosted the military chiefs of staff from the five other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and several friendly countries on 21 October to talk about how to defend the region from Iranian aggression, the Saudi Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on the same day.

“Today’s meeting is to find the most appropriate ways to provide joint military capabilities that, God willing, protect vital and sensitive facilities as the region continues to suffer ongoing crises since the arrival of the Iranian revolutionary regime,” the MoD quoted Saudi Chief of the General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwaili as saying.

The MoD said the conference was attended by Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It released photographs showing that at least some of the representatives were senior – but not the top – officers from their countries.

US Central Command’s (CENTCOM’s) General Kenneth McKenzie was present, as was Lieutenant General Seong-yong Lee, head of strategic planning for the South Korean military, and Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano, commander of the Italian Military’s Joint Operations Headquarters Command.

The officers were shown the remnants of the missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles used against Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities on 14 September.

They were all keen to find the best ways to defend and deter threats against Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure, territory, and territorial waters, the MoD said. It said details would be discussed at a force-generation conference to be held on 4 November.