Saudi Arabia supports terrorism in Middle East: Analyst

A political commentator says Saudi Arabia plays an active role in funding and supporting terrorism and extremism against democratic countries in the Middle East, Press TV reports. Middle East expert from London Zeid al-Isa told Press TV’s Debate program that the formal religious establishment of Saudi Arabia as the staunchest ally of the United States adheres to the Wahhabi-Salafi ideology which is “the most regressive, the most violent and the most backward ideology.” “The Wahhabi-Salafi ideology gives religious legitimacy, religious incentive and religious justification to the atrocities and also to the suicide bombings which are taking place both in Iraq and in Syria,” he stated. In response to a question about the reasons behind recent violent attacks against Shia Muslims in Iraq, Isa noted that the country has been the scene of the worst bloodshed during July and the holy month of Ramadan. “It is reminiscent of the days of 2006 and 2007 bloodshed where Iraq was driven close to the brink of a civil war,” he said. “What is also undeniable is that since 2003 the Saudi regime has refused to recognize the democratic change in Iraq. It has also refused to have any diplomatic representation,” the commentator stated. He reaffirmed the “undeniable” fact that Saudi Arabia has been the staunchest, closest and irreplaceable ally for the United States in the Middle East after the popular uprisings swept into the region. Saudi Arabia is the main strategic US ally, which is the central pillar of executing American policies, he concluded. Iraq has been struggling with a major surge of terror bombings and other violence since the beginning of this year. Over 670 people have been killed in the holy month of Ramadan alone. The United Nations said on August 1 that a total of 1,057 Iraqis were killed and another 2,326 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in the month of July, making it the country’s deadliest month since 2008.