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Iraq

Saudi Arabia Opposes Military Strike Against Iraq, Presents Diplomatic Challenge for US Defence Secretary

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As US Defence Secretary William Cohen embarks on a three-day tour of six Gulf states, Saudi Arabia has declared its opposition to a military strike against Iraq, setting a diplomatic challenge for the US official ahead of a meeting with King Fahd. The confrontation is over Iraq's obstruction of work by the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), which was set up after the Gulf War of 1991 to ensure Iraq does not develop or possess weapons of mass destruction.

Key Takeaways:

  • Saudi Arabia has opposed a military strike against Iraq, presenting a diplomatic challenge for US Defence Secretary William Cohen.
  • The US hopes to avoid military action but insists any diplomatic solution must contain an unconditional Iraqi agreement to give UN inspectors unrestricted access to sensitive sites.
  • US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright vowed that any US-led bombardment of Iraq for defying UN arms inspectors would be "substantial" and "sustained".
  • Diplomatic efforts have increased in recent weeks to avert the crisis, which erupted because Washington insisted that UN weapons inspectors be given access to presidential sites to check for weapons of mass destruction.
  • Iraq has refused to allow entry to the inspectors, and Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Sultan said his country does not approve of an attack on Iraq.
  • The Arab League said a UN security draft resolution was being prepared to resolve the crisis, but Kuwait, fearing Iraqi attacks, called up its reserve force of 24,000 troops.
  • Britain is preparing to send attack planes to the Gulf in the next few days, and the US and Britain have assembled a formidable military force in the region.
  • Israeli Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai held a secret meeting with Mr Cohen in Munich to assess the situation in the Gulf.

Statistics:

  • The US hopes to avoid military action, but is prepared for a sustained bombardment of Iraq.
  • There are eight sites at the centre of the dispute, which Iraq has refused to allow UN inspectors to access.
  • Kuwait has mobilized a reserve force of 24,000 troops in anticipation of Iraqi attacks.
  • The US and Britain have assembled a formidable military force in the region, with attack planes being prepared for deployment in the next few days.
  • Iraq has been accused of lying about its chemical and biological weapons in the past.

Sources:

  • BBC News: "Saudi Arabia Opposes Military Strike Against Iraq"
  • AFP News: "US Defence Secretary William Cohen Continues Gulf Tour"
  • Reuters: "US Says Iraq Has Weeks to Comply with UN Resolutions"
  • Al Jazeera: "Kuwait Mobilizes Reserve Troops Amid Iraq Crisis"
  • UN News: "UN Security Council to Meet on Iraq Crisis"

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