Saudi Arabia, terrorism stronghold in Mideast: Analyst

Saudi Arabia has become a stronghold for terrorist networks across the Middle East, as Riyadh continues to nurture terrorists for its own survival, a political analyst tells Press TV.

In a Friday interview, Sabah Jawad, director of Iraqi Democrats against Occupation, pointed to the growing activities of terrorist groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, saying, “The common thread among all of them, combining all of them is the link with Saudi Arabia with the finances and with organizations and with the crazy policy pursued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well.”
“Saudi Arabia as a regime cannot survive in the 21st century. And therefore they have to create this destruction in the Middle East to be able to survive,” he added.
Jawad said members of these networks operating in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are not homegrown terrorist groups, noting that the regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar “recruit” those individuals and “brainwash” them with the Takfiri ideology.
The Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Fallujah in Anbar Province have been the scene of clashes between security forces and al-Qaeda-affiliated militants over the past days.
Lebanon and Syria have also been the scene of deadly strings of bomb attack by al-Qaeda-linked terrorist networks.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese government confirmed the arrest of the Saudi commander of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Majed al-Majed.
Majed is a high-profile terrorist also wanted by the US and some other countries. He had earlier traveled to Syria to pledge his allegiance to the notorious al-Nusra Front, which is fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.