A Saudi 'Night of the Long Knives'? Prince Salman's crackdown

[Keit]

Re: A Saudi 'Night of the Long Knives'? Prince Salman's crackdown signals significan

And the Israelis are, of course, fit to be tied (as the saying goes). The removal of Hariri points directly to a desperate Israeli move (with the help of the Saudis). The Israelis have, of course, been meddling in Lebanon for decades, causing great harm in the process.

Yesterday I read the following article by Daniel B. Shapiro on the Haaaretz site. Daniel B. Shapiro was once U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and was on the National Security Council during the Obama Administration. Basically a typical Israeli propagandist. It was really surprising to see such opinion being shared on Haaretz, but maybe this newspaper stopped hiding the fact that they are nothing more than a talking head for a controlled opposition.

In any case, it is interesting to notice how Israel tries to maintain the image of a perpetuate victim and blaming Saudi Aravia for "forcing it to go to war with Iran". Obviously people in comments on the social networks didn't buy it.

Opinion - Is Saudi Arabia Pushing Israel Into War With Hezbollah and Iran?
What connects Lebanese PM Saad Hariri's sudden resignation and Hezbollah's assassination threat with Saudi Arabia and Israel? It's all about Iran. But Israel must not be maneuvered by an impatient Riyadh into a premature confrontation.

Saad Hariri, who resigned Saturday as Prime Minister of Lebanon, always faced a no-win situation trying to serve in that role. His departure heralds the latest ratcheting up of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran playing out across the region, with significant implications for Israel.[...]

Israeli leaders have been preparing for the next war with Hezbollah since 2006. Iran’s increasing assertiveness across the region makes clear that, even more than the last war, it will be a fight to diminish the Iranian threat on Israel’s borders. Israel and Saudi Arabia are fully aligned in this regional struggle, and the Saudis cannot help but be impressed by Israel’s increasing assertiveness to strike at Iranian threats in Syria.

Israel will have to make its own decision when the time is right for that fight. When the moment of truth arrives, Israel’s allies, with the United States in the lead, should give it full backing. An act of Iranian or Hezbollah aggression may well be the spark, as their malign intentions are perfectly clear.

But Israeli leaders will want to take care not to find themselves backed into a premature confrontation by the maneuvers of their allies who sit in Riyadh.

 

[angelburst29]

Re: A Saudi 'Night of the Long Knives'? Prince Salman's crackdown signals significan

In a shocking development, late on Saturday the Saudi press reported that prominent billionaire, member of the royal Saudi family, and one of the biggest shareholders of Citi, News Corp. and Twitter - not to mention frequent CNBC guest - Al-Waleed bin Talal, along with ten senior princes, and some 38 ministers, has been arrested for corruption and money laundering charges on orders from the new anti-corruption committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Royal princes’ private planes have been grounded.

In Shocking Purge, Saudi King Arrests Billionaire Prince Bin Talal, Dozens Of Others In Cabinet Crackdown (Tweets - Video)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-11-04/shocking-purge-saudi-king-arrests-billionaire-prince-bin-talal-others-anti-money-lau

Among those fired and/or arrested are the head of National Royal Guards, Miteb Bin Abdullah, the Minister of Economy and Planning, Adel Fakeih, and Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan, the Commander of the Saudi Naval Forces.

As the local press further adds, the supreme committee chaired by Crown Prince and billionaire stops "on charges of money laundering." al-Waleed bin Talal is perhaps best known not only for his periodic CNBC appearances, but for his recurring on and off spats with president Trump:

According to al Arabiya, among those sacked and/or arrested are Moteib Bin Abdullah, Minister of the National Guard, and Prince Khalid bin Ayyaf has been appointed as his replacement. A second Royal Order was issued to relieve Minister of Economy and Planning, Adel al-Faqieh, from his duties, and the appointment of Mohammed Al Tuwaijri as Minister of Economy and Planning.

According to a Royal Decree issued by King Salman on Saturday the anti-corruption committee is chaired by the Crown Prince with the membership of: Chairman of the Monitoring and Investigation Commission, Chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Chief of the General Audit Bureau, Attorney General and Head of State Security.

As Saudi analysts were quick to point out, the purge by the Saudi King means that King Abdallah’s last remnants (Riyad firmer gov. & head of Nat. Guard); media moguls; SAGIA & financial policy officials have been purged.

As Bloomberg notes, changing the head of the National Guard, an institution that’s been controlled by the clan of the late King Abdullah, “is not like changing the minister of oil,” said Kamran Bokhari, a senior analyst with Geopolitical Futures and a senior fellow with the Center for Global Policy. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this leads to greater fissures within the royal family.”

Arabiya adds that King Salman also issued sacking and replacement orders for Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan, the Commander of the Naval Forces, is to be terminated and be retired; his replacement is Vice Admiral Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghifaili, to be promoted to the rank of admiral and be appointed as Commander of the Naval Forces.

Additionally, Minister of Economy and Planning Adel al-Faqieh was replaced by Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, SPA said, quoting a royal decree. Commander of the Saudi Navy, Abdullah al-Sultan, was replaced with Fahad al-Ghafli. The king also replaced Minister of Economy and Planning Adel Fakeih withMohammad Al Tuwaijri, his deputy.

Al Tuwaijri, formerly vice minister for economy and planning, had already played a key role in shaping Saudi economic and fiscal policy over the past year. Before joining the government in May 2016 he was Middle East chief executive for HSBC. He’s served as a frequent spokesman for the government’s economic reform plan on TV and with Western journalists.

King Salman also issued an decree forming an anti-corruption committee headed by the crown prince. Its powers include the ability to trace funds and assets, and prevent their transfer or liquidation on behalf of individuals or entities, along with the right to take any precautionary actions until cases are referred to relevant investigatory or judiciary authorities, according to a government statement.

The committee’s formation was deemed necessary “due to the propensity of some people for abuse, putting their personal interest above public interest, and stealing public funds,” the Royal Order said.

Some more cynical observers noted how MBS is quickly learning from XIi Jinping "how to get rid of enemies under justification of "corruption commission" & place "friendlies" in high places."

Others arrested include Walid bin Talal; Khaled Tuweijri; AlWalid Ibrahim; Turki Bin Naser; and others.

Putting the arrests in context, the heads of the main three Saudi owned TV networks were arrested, Alwalid Bin Talal (Rotana), Walid Al Brahim (MBC), Saleh Kamel (ART)

As Bloomberg adds, Saudi King Salman appointed a former HSBC banker to head the country’s economy ministry and removed one of the royal family’s most prominent princes from as head of the National Guard. Separately, a number of Saudi princes and former ministers were arrested by authorities hours after the announcement of a new anti-corruption committee, with sweeping powers and headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news service reported.

Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was replaced as minister of the National Guard by Prince Khaled Ayyaf, according to a royal decree carried by state-run media late Saturday. Before his ouster, Prince Miteb was one of the few remaining senior princes to have survived a series of cabinet reshuffles that promoted allies of the crown prince, who is the king’s son and heir to the throne.

King Salman has sidelined other senior members of the royal family to prevent any opposition to the crown prince. Prince Mohammed, 32, replaced his elder cousin, Muhammed bin Nayef, as crown prince in June, a maneuver that removed any doubt of how succession plans will unfold following the reign of King Salman, now 81.

While details remain scarce about this "Saturday of the long Saudi knives" - which some have suggested may be a countercoup attempt - DPA confirms the Al Arabiya report that three senior state officials were sacked.

Salman relieved Prince Moteib bin Abdullah of his post as minister of the National Guard, replacing him with Khaled bin Ayaf, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported. Additionally, Minister of Economy and Planning Adel al-Faqieh was replaced by Mohammed al-Tuwaijri, SPA said, quoting a royal decree. Commander of the Saudi Navy, Abdullah al-Sultan, was replaced with Fahad al-Ghafli. No official explanation was given for the sackings.

In recent months, the Saudi monarch has carried out a string of reshuffles appointing young people in senior state posts. In June, Salman ousted his nephew as the crown prince and appointed his son Mohammed to become the first in line to succeed him. The monarch on Saturday ordered the creation of an anti-corruption committee led by the crown prince amid a rumored crackdown on suspected tainted officials and royals. Mohammed, 31, is seen as the driving force behind opening up the ultra-conservative country to the outside world and weaning its economy off oil.

Furthermore, there is speculation that all private flights and VIP departures out of Saudi Arabia have been suspended temporarily, similar to what happened following the last "gentle coup" in June when Prince Mohammed (MBS), 32, replaced his elder cousin, Muhammed bin Nayef, as crown prince in June, a maneuver that removed any doubt of how succession plans will unfold following the reign of King Salman, now 81.

According to the AngryArab blog, the removal of Prince Miteb bin Abdullah as head of the National Guard, means that "this is the first time that the National Guard is not in the hand of Abdullah or his son."

That put all apparatus of the military-intelligence network in the hands of Muhammad bin Salman. News that Al-Walid bin Talal has been arrested and accused of money laundering. This could be a service to Trump, who hates Al-Walid: the two fought it out on twitter during the campaign although Al-Walid tried to reconcile with Trump after his election but to no avail.

Bin Talal's arrest and the government reshuffle caps off a bizarre day for Saudi news flow, which started with the resignation of Palestinian prime minister Saad al-Hariri, who announced he was quitting due to fears of an assassination plot, allegedly organized by Iran, followed shortly after by the Saudi defense forces intercepting a ballistic missile as it was about to strike the capital Riyadh.

Comment: - On the reddit conspiracy website, there is an interesting "theory" that the night of the Las Vegas shooting, there was a planned assassination attempt on the Crown Prince Mohammad, who was staying in an upper floor? The top upper floors of Mandalay Bay were bought out and are owned by Billionaire Prince Bin Talal and are referred to as the Four Seasons. As the story goes - the Prince had disguised himself as a regular dude to enjoy the nightlife in Vegas, had slipped away from the Mandalay and was at the Tropicana playing cards. As soon as the FBI (or some other agency) learned of the assassination plot, they stormed the Tropicana and extracted the Prince and escort him to the nearest helipad to be picked up.

In this first video from 2016, the Saudi Crown Prince is seen in regular street clothes. The second video clip shows "what appears to be the Prince" in a white T-shirt and dark colored shorts being escorted out of the Tropicana? The third clip goes into more detail on the Prince being escorted. The last link is the Reddit site and where the theory is explained.

Saudi’s Deputy Crown Prince meets Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg Al Arabiya English Wednesday, 22 June 2016 (Photos - Video)
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/technology/2016/06/22/Saudi-s-Deputy-Crown-Prince-meets-Facebook-founder-Mark-Zuckerberg.html

During Las Vegas Shooting WHO is this guy being escorted out of the Tropicana #DNN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVHmshtmDqo (0:40 min.)

Right in the Middle of the Mandalay Bay shooting, this man (in white T-Shirt w bag) Gets a fully armed escort out of the Tropicana Casino right across the street, listen to the instructions being given ?? #DNN

Las Vegas Shooting WHO is this guy being escorted OUT of the Tropicana Hotel UPDATE TAKE 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lTtnq7aFqQ (43:40 min.)

Reddit Conspiracy
_https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/7b9r6m/im_resubmitting_this_because_another_user/

 

[Aeneas]

Zerohedge says:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-11-07/leaked-secret-israeli-cable-confirms-israeli-saudi-coordination-lebanon

"Explosive" Leaked Secret Israeli Cable Confirms Israeli-Saudi Coordination To Provoke War

Was this leaked on purpose so as to distract us? In the current media climate leaks are often taken to be more truthful than just news and the Israelis know this.

When one looks at it, then MSB is in no position to start another war, as he apart from losing the wars in Yemen and Syria now has started an internal war with all the Saudi clans out to get him. Billionaire princes even if imprisoned have means to start an internal war. Besides Saudi Arabia hardly has an army of their own able to confron Iran. Israel does have nuclear weapons as Joe points out, but confronting Iran would also destroy Israel. So I doubt Israel is keen on taking on Iran apart from verbal attacks and the occasional false flag event.

The step MBS has taken in Saudi Arabia is a dangerous one, because he has now committed himself to warfare with the other clans. He can not just release those princes again and say sorry for their 'lowly' stay at the Ritz hotel. Exiling, executing, releasing or imprisoning them all carry their risks. Besides the death of the two princes(heirs) will be squarely laid at the feet of MBS, I think. Engaging in war rhetoric with Iran can serve MBS as a distraction and a rallying point, but he should know that it would be suicide for him to actually confront Iran. Irrational behaviours can of course not be excluded ;)

We will probably see more action in the coming days/weeks as MBS has little time before his next move, I think, due to the imprisoned family members and their connections.

[popcorn emoticon]

 

[mkrnhr]

If there is a war in the region, it's more likely to be a "proxy" war in Lebanon than a direct attack on Iran. Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 but now, it can count on ISIS savages pouring in from Syria and elsewhere, with the support of Saudi Arabia.

 

[Joe]

If there is a war in the region, it's more likely to be a "proxy" war in Lebanon than a direct attack on Iran. Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 but now, it can count on ISIS savages pouring in from Syria and elsewhere, with the support of Saudi Arabia.

I think they tried that already over the past 6 years in Syria, but they were unable to achieve their goals. I don't see any reason to think they would be successful with another attempt. If the staging grounds for these jihadis is the same (Iraq, jordan, saudi etc), as soon as they move through Syria or Iraq they would be targeted ty SAA and Russia. The only way through to Lebanon would be via Israel itself, which is possible I suppose, but I also presume that Hezbollah would be altered to such a strategy and make short work of them. Every way I look at it, I see that the established powers in the Middle East (US, Saudi and Israel) have been checkmated.

 

[Aeneas]

If there is a war in the region, it's more likely to be a "proxy" war in Lebanon than a direct attack on Iran. Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 but now, it can count on ISIS savages pouring in from Syria and elsewhere, with the support of Saudi Arabia.

I think they tried that already over the past 6 years in Syria, but they were unable to achieve their goals. I don't see any reason to think they would be successful with another attempt. If the staging grounds for these jihadis is the same (Iraq, jordan, saudi etc), as soon as they move through Syria or Iraq they would be targeted ty SAA and Russia. The only way through to Lebanon would be via Israel itself, which is possible I suppose, but I also presume that Hezbollah would be altered to such a strategy and make short work of them. Every way I look at it, I see that the established powers in the Middle East (US, Saudi and Israel) have been checkmated.

I also think it highly unlikely that they will try a war on Lebanon. Hezbollah is battletrained and the Syrian army too, who would equally be there to defend Lebanon. Then there is Iran and Iranian trained militias, who will defend Lebanon. They already managed a few months ago to kick out the terrorists in the Arsal mountains between Lebanon and Syria in a joint effort which was swift. It is fair to say as Joe does above that the established powers have been checkmated and they no doubt know it.

 

[Pierre]

According to Thierry Meyssan the purge led by Saudi Prince MBS and the resignation of Lebanese minister Hariri are related.

Meyssan states that:
1/ Saad Hariri owes 4 billion to Saudi Arabia
2/ Saad Hariri is not the son of Rafik Hariri (assassinated in 2005) but the son of a Saoud (Abdallah clan).‌
‌
Tthe resignation of Saad Hariri is a direct result of MLB purge, during which MLB targeted his rivals.

In the Saoud family, there are three clans:
- The clan of King Abdallah's son, prince Muteb (who was the head of the royal guard and was fired and arrested a few days ago),
- the clan of the son of Minister of domestic affairs Neyef (who was fired and arrested too),
- the clan of the son of King Salmane: MBS, the current ruler of Saudi Arabia who just attempted to strengthen his power by targeting rival clans.

Saad Hariri could have pushed Lebanon to support the Abdallah clan (and oppose MLB), therefore MLB chose to remove him from his position, maybe using his astronomical debt as a lever (this last point is not made by Meyssan, it's just a guess of mine)

The source is here but it's only available in French for now.

 

[mkrnhr]

According to Thierry Meyssan the purge led by Saudi Prince MBS and the resignation of Lebanese minister Hariri are related.

Meyssan states that:
1/ Saad Hariri owes 4 billion to Saudi Arabia
2/ Saad Hariri is not the son of Rafik Hariri (assassinated in 2005) but the son of a Saoud (Abdallah clan).‌
‌
Tthe resignation of Saad Hariri is a direct result of MLB purge, during which MLB targeted his rivals.

This is what Pepe Escobar posted along the same lines:

Very few people know that self-deposed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri – a double national (Lebanon/Saudi Arabia) - is actually a bastard son of the Abdullah clan in the House of Saud.

That explains 50% of the riddle; how come a Lebanese Prime Minister announces his resignation in Saudi Arabia, on Saudi TV (al-Arabiya), reading a text redacted by MBS and (the Surrealist Manifesto touch) accusing Iran of interfering in Lebanon.

Eliminating Hariri as part of the wider Abdullah clan “threat” was part of MBS’s Saudi Night of the Long Lives; the purge against any possible contenders and/or deniers of his one-man power grab.

The other 50% of the riddle is that Saudi asset Hariri owes a whopping $4 billion to the House of Saud.

 

[Cosmos]

I think it is always a good idea to closely listen to what Putin says and try to read between the lines if necessary on certain issues. Here is what Putin said at the last Valdai conference when being asked about Saudi Arabia and if he is "worried that the Saudis are using him". Also interesting what he had to say about the commentators comment; "Let's face it: Saudis major ally is always going to be the united states...", namely, that there is no certainty in this world and that everything always changes. Below the video I have compiled all the statement of Putin about the Saudis at Valdai in text form. The mentioned part about the fast changing word starts at 2:22:

https://youtu.be/9H5-niQ_5dE

Putin: [...]I have to note that other countries, including the United States, are greatly contributing; even though they are not participating in the talks in Astana directly, they are influencing these processes behind the scenes. We maintain stable cooperation with our American partners in this sphere, on this track, even though not without disputes. However, there are more positive than negative elements in our cooperation.

So far, we have managed to agree on many issues, including the southern de-escalation zone, where Israeli and Jordanian interests are also present. Of course, this process could not have been what it is now without the positive impact of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as many other countries, small but important, including, by the way, Qatar.

What are the prospects? There is every reason to believe – I will put it cautiously – that we will finish off the terrorists in the short term, but that is no cause for joy, for saying that terrorism is over and done with. [...]

[...]There is an idea to call a congress of the Syrian people, bringing together all ethnic and religious groups, the government and the opposition.

If this could be done, also with support from guarantor countries and even major powers outside the region – Saudi Arabia, the United States and Egypt – that would be the next, additional but very important step toward a political settlement. And then perhaps toward drafting a new Constitution, but it is still early to talk about that. This is roughly the plan.[...]
[...]
Ebtesam al-Ketbi: Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, Professor of Political Science and Head of the Emirates Policy Centre. Mr President, it is obvious now that Russia in the Middle East is a really successful country. And a master of the game, especially in Syria. But in the wake of King Salman’s visit, which the Saudi describe as a historical visit, I want to ask you: what is the strategic shift in Russian policy towards the Gulf States? Or is this just something that will not last forever, taking into consideration that GCC used to be a traditional alliance of the US, and this is also another success of Russia by pulling the Saudi towards Russia? Is this a real shift or you still do not trust the Gulf States?

Putin: The world is changing, all countries are changing and relations between states are changing. There is nothing unusual in this. In fact, back in Soviet days, Saudi Arabia’s relations with the Soviet Union were fairly good, but there were constraints of a purely ideological nature. Today there are none and we have nothing that would fundamentally divide us. Now, what can unite us with Saudi Arabia or countries in the region? Actually, I can see absolutely no reason for these dividing lines. I have a very good personal, almost friendly relationship with almost all the leaders of these states.

The visit by the King of Saudi Arabia was a great honour for us. It was a historic event indeed, if only because it was the first visit by a King of Saudi Arabia to Russia. In and of itself, this shows Saudi Arabia’s attitude toward building a relationship with Russia.

We have absolutely no problem with the fact that these countries, including Saudi Arabia, have their own special interests, historical ties and allied relations with, among others, the United States. Why should this worry us? This does not mean that we are forbidden from working with Saudi Arabia; we will do so. As for Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, it is up to them to decide who they prefer to work with and on what issues.

Russia is demonstrating stability, predictability and reliability in its foreign policy. And I believe that this appeals to our partners. In addition, we have shared economic interests – importantly, interests of a global nature. Now, we have coordinated our position on the energy market with OPEC nations, above all with Saudi Arabia and the [oil] price has been stable, at over $50 [per barrel]. We consider this a fair price; it is quite suitable for us. This is the result of joint efforts.

There are also other results. The first opportunities have emerged for defence technology cooperation. Yes, there are multi-billion contracts with the United States. Very well! Do you know what our people say? “The chicken pecks one grain at a time.” Our ties will expand slowly and perhaps these contracts will grow.

I was also asked whether we are afraid that Saudi Arabia will be with the United States again? We are afraid of nothing! What is there for us to be afraid of? You know, it is Saudi Arabia that should be afraid, so to speak, that the Americans will bring democratisation to Saudi Arabia. This is what they should fear. But what is there for us to fear? We already have democracy. We will keep working. (Laughter.)

 

[angelburst29]

According to Thierry Meyssan the purge led by Saudi Prince MBS and the resignation of Lebanese minister Hariri are related.

Meyssan states that:
1/ Saad Hariri owes 4 billion to Saudi Arabia
2/ Saad Hariri is not the son of Rafik Hariri (assassinated in 2005) but the son of a Saoud (Abdallah clan).‌
‌
Tthe resignation of Saad Hariri is a direct result of MLB purge, during which MLB targeted his rivals.

In the Saoud family, there are three clans:
- The clan of King Abdallah's son, prince Muteb (who was the head of the royal guard and was fired and arrested a few days ago),
- the clan of the son of Minister of domestic affairs Neyef (who was fired and arrested too),
- the clan of the son of King Salmane: MBS, the current ruler of Saudi Arabia who just attempted to strengthen his power by targeting rival clans.

Saad Hariri could have pushed Lebanon to support the Abdallah clan (and oppose MLB), therefore MLB chose to remove him from his position, maybe using his astronomical debt as a lever (this last point is not made by Meyssan, it's just a guess of mine)

The source is here but it's only available in French for now.

Palace Coup in Riyadh
http://www.voltairenet.org/article198647.html

 

[angelburst29]

Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed News reported tonight that the private jet of former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, had landed at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in southern Beirut.

Saad Hariri’s plane allegedly lands in Beirut – report 09/11/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/saad-hariris-plane-allegedly-lands-beirut-report/

The Lebanese news channel stated it is still unknown whether or not Hariri is actually on the plane.

Meanwhile, Lebanese politician, Okab Saqr, told the Future TV channel tonight that all reports claiming Hariri returned to Lebanon are false.

Saad Hariri resigned from his position as Prime Minister of Lebanon while making an unofficial visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Saudi Arabian banks have frozen more than 1,200 accounts belonging to individuals and companies in the Kingdom as part of the government’s anti-corruption purge, bankers and lawyers said.

Saudi Banks Freeze over 1,200 Accounts in Probe
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960817000554

They added that the number is continuing to rise, Middle East Monitor reported.

The news comes as Saudi Arabia has begun a crackdown on princes, businessmen and officials, including the Kingdom’s best-known international investor, Al-Waleed Bin Talal who was detained at the weekend.

A no-fly list has been drawn up and security forces in some Saudi airports were barring owners of private jets from taking off without a permit,
pan-Arab daily Al-Asharq Al-Awsat said. Among those detained are 11 princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers, according to Saudi officials.

The allegations against the men include money laundering, bribery, extortion and taking advantage of public office for personal gain, a Saudi official told Reuters.

A royal decree said the crackdown was launched in response to “exploitation by some of the weak souls who have put their own interests above the public interest, in order to, illicitly accrue money”.

The new anti-corruption committee has the power to seize assets at home and abroad before the results of its investigations are known.

The Saudi anti-corruption push involving the arrest of princes and government ministers may lead to the confiscation of cash and other assets worth of at least $800 billion.

Saudi Arabia Could Seize $800bln in Assets in Corruption Crackdown
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960817001243

“They reckon they could get around two to three trillion riyals from these people. That’s the number they are talking about,”a person close to the government told the Wall Street Journal.

On Saturday, Saudi state media reported the arrest of at least 11 Saudi princes and four incumbent ministers, with the minister of the National Guard, and the economy minister among those detained. The arrests are reportedly the part of a broader plan to fight corruption in the kingdom.

Some leading businessmen have been arrested since the crackdown started, with more than 60 princes, officials and other big-name Saudis in custody, according to the sources cited by the WSJ.

The kingdom's central bank has reportedly frozen the accounts of “persons of interest” and announced that the step was “in response to the Attorney General’s request pending the legal cases against them.”

According to the media, most of the frozen assets are abroad, which will make the process of reclaiming and confiscating longer and more complicated.
All the funds accumulated through corruption are to become state property.

Arab media outlets reported on Wednesday that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has been kept in Riyadh to pay his $7bln debts to the Saudi banks.

Arab Media: Hariri Hostage in Riyadh to Settle $7bln Overdue Debts
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960817001357

The Arabic-language al-Akhbar newspaper said in a report that Riyadh had given Hariri the options of either going back to Beirut to resign and immediately come back to Riyadh while his family members were kept in Saudi Arabia or attack President Michael Aoun and Hezbollah in his resignation from Riyadh and meantime settle his debts to the Saudi media and political bodies.

The information gained from Abu Dhabi last night showed that Riyadh will take the overdue debts of Saudi Oger company from Saad al-Hariri. The company was established by his father in 1978 and certain reports since 2015 raised the possibility of its bankruptcy.

Based on an agreement between Saad Hariri and the Saudi officials, he will own two houses in Riyadh and Jeddah, one of them earlier owned by his late father.

They also agreed on non-prosecution of the Saudi Oger company by the Saudi banks which have paid loans to it.

Meantime, the Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen news channel quoted an informed source at the parliament as saying that Hariri will return to Lebanon later this week.

The Hariri family's major interests in Saudi Arabia date back to 1978 when the Saudi Oger construction company was founded by Saad's father Rafik, the former Lebanese prime minister who was assassinated in 2005.

Saudi Oger was responsible for building vast swathes of Saudi Arabia and helping develop the cities of the desert kingdom into some of the world's leading metropolises.

It also made the Hariri family multi-billionaires - Saad Hariri was estimated to worth around $4.1bn in 2005 shortly after his father's death. The Hariris were also granted Saudi citizenship as a result of their contributions.

In recent years, however, a tanking Saudi economy combined with allegations of corruption have damaged the fortunes of the company and Hariri, who as of December 2016 was worth just $1.3bn, according to Forbes.

The helicopter carrying Saudi Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin and seven other people was deliberately targeted by state forces because it is believed Bin Muqrin opposed Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s succession to the throne, informed sources told the New Khaleej.

Sources: Saudi prince’s helicopter was targeted by Bin Salman
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171108-sources-saudi-princes-helicopter-was-targeted-by-bin-salman/

According to the sources, Bin Muqrin had recently sent a letter to some 1,000 princes urging them to step away from support for Bin Salman’s succession to the throne, pointing out that the youth must take action.

The sources claim the attack sends a clear message to others within the royal family that Bin Salman will stop at nothing to silence his critics and those who oppose him.

On Sunday evening, Saudi media reported that Saudi Prince Mansour Bin Muqrin and seven other people, including senior government officials and a mayor, were killed in a helicopter crash. Al Arabiya news site released a video of the moments before the Prince’s death as he was heading to the helicopter.

 

[Pierre]

A few days after MBS purged the Saudi government, Hariri was removed from his position as Lebanon Prime Minister, Bahrein recommended to its citizens to leave Lebanon and an Israeli media leaked an israeli intelligence memo according to which Israel and Saudi Arabia are coordinating to provoke war against Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is now ordering its citizens to leave Lebanon:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-11-09/saudi-arabia-orders-its-citizens-leave-lebanon-immediately

Saudi Arabia Orders Its Citizens To Leave Lebanon Immediately

In a odd coincidence, just moments after we published an article laying out Hezbollah's military power at a time when both Saudi Arabia and Israel appear to be targeting Lebanon, and just two days after we discussed a leaked Israeli cable that confirmed Saudi Arabia and Israel are deliberately coordinating to destabilize the region and push Lebanon to a state of war, Saudi Arabia has ordered its citizens residing in Lebanon to leave immediately in a travel warning issued on Thursday, November 9. As Al Arabiya adds, the travel warning also called for Saudi nationals not to travel to Lebanon from any point of origin.

Full advisory below:

Official Source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Saudi nationals visiting or residing in Lebanon are asked to leave the country as soon as possible.

Riyadh, Safar 20, 1439, November 09, 2017, SPA -- Due to the situations in the Republic of Lebanon, the official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Saudi nationals visiting or residing in Lebanon are asked to leave the country as soon as possible.

The Kingdom advised all citizens not to travel to Lebanon from any other international destinations.

This follows a similar warning issued by the Kingdom of Bahrain on November 5 urging its nationals residing in Lebanon to leave immediately and to "exercise caution.” The Bahraini call came a day after Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation, while on location in Saudi Arabia, citing concerns he could be assassinated like his father, criticized the Lebanon-based Hezbollah paramilitary and political movement and accused Iran of alleged attempts to bring destruction to the region. The Bahraini foreign ministry said in a statement received by AFP that its call was "in the interest of its citizens’ safety and to avoid any risks they may be exposed due to the conditions and developments” that Lebanon is going through.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Lebanon believes former premier Saad al-Hariri, who as noted above resigned on Saturday while in Saudi Arabia, is being held by Riyadh, and Beirut plans to work with foreign states to secure his return, a top Lebanese government official said on Thursday. A second Reuters source, a senior politician close to Saudi-allied Hariri, said Saudi Arabia had ordered him to resign and put him under house arrest. A third source familiar with the situation said Saudi Arabia was controlling and limiting his movement.

Saudi Arabia and members of Hariri’s Future Movement have denied reports that he is under house arrest. But he has put out no statements himself denying his movements are being restricted. He made a one-day flying visit to the United Arab Emirates earlier this week before returning to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister also urged the international community to slap fresh sanctions against Iran, accusing its regional rival of supporting terrorism.

"We would like to see sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism and sanctions on Iran for violating the ballistic missile resolutions of the United Nations," Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi minister of foreign affairs, told CNBC Thursday.

Al-Jubeir also said that the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers was "weak," especially given Tehran would be capable of assembling a bomb "within weeks." He added he would like to see international agencies carry out a "much more robust" job when conducting inspections in Iran.

Al-Jubeir also described the situation in Lebanon as "unfortunate" and went on to accuse Hezbollah of "hijacking the system" and putting "roadblocks" in front of Hariri at every opportunity. When asked whether Saudi Arabia was headed for a direct conflict with Iran, Al-Jubeir replied, "We hope not", and yet just hours later Riyadh made it clear that any Saudi citizens in Lebanon are now in danger.

Needless to say, traditionally such accelerate evacuation orders have preceded military intervention. Should that be the case again, keep a close eye on oil.

The real target of the Saudi-Israeli operation might not really be Lebanon but Iran and the Hezbollah which has become a Shia military and social powerhouse thanks to, among other causes, its victory against Israel in 2005-2006 and the part it played in the victory against ISIS in Syria.

To know more about Hezbollah here is an interesting article that was recently published.

 

[Aeneas]

Kuwait did not wait long to follow Saudi Arabia's move:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-11-09/kuwait-orders-citizens-leave-lebanon-immediately-precaution-against-any-negative-imp

Kuwait Orders Citizens To Leave Lebanon Immediately "As Precaution Against Any Negative Impact That Might Take Place"


The drums of war are beating at a deafening pace: with Saudi Arabia ordering its citizens to immediately leave Lebanon on Thursday, just a few hours later Kuwait joined in.

According to the Kuwait News Agency, citing a foreign ministry statement, Kuwait citizens currently in Lebanon are urged to leave the country immediately.

The statement said the order is due to the "circumstances experienced by Lebanon at the moment, as well as a precautionary measure against any negative impact that might take place."

The ministry also urged citizens not to travel to Lebanon, "wishing at the same time security and stability for the Arab country."

At this point it is safe to assume that war between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia/Israel is just a matter of time.

For those wondering what this next regional war could look like, please read our earlier article "As Israel And Saudi Arabia Target Lebanon, What Are Hezbollah's Military Capabilities"

I still put a question mark on the validity of the leak. Who leaked the Israeli cable? Is the content of the cable valid? Why was it leaked and was it leaked to throw a red herring? I find it hard to believe that Israel and Saudi Arabia really want a war, after their proxy armies just have been beaten in Syria and Saudi Arabia has been losing badly in Yemen, not to mention the possibility of much more internal political unrest in Saudi Arabia.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711091058944363-hariri-saudi-arabia-lebanon/

Lebanese Authorities Claim Ex-PM Hariri Being Held in Saudi Arabia - Reports

Hariri resigned on November 4 while visiting Saudi Arabia, citing concerns that he could be assassinated like his father.
The office of the former Lebanese prime minister, Saad al-Hariri, has announced that he met with the French ambassador, as well as UK, US, EU diplomats in Riyadh.

According to a Lebanese government official, authorities believe that Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia.

"Lebanon is heading towards asking foreign and Arab states to put pressure on Saudi to release Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri," the unnamed official has stated as cited by Reuters.

The official further said, "Keeping Hariri with restricted freedom in Riyadh is an attack on Lebanese sovereignty. Our dignity is his dignity. We will work with states to return him to Beirut."

Riyadh and Hariri aides have denied allegations that he is under house arrest, but haven't denied that movements are being restricted.

If this is so, then is Saudi Arabia keeping Hariri as a hostage due to his debt or because he is an heir to the Saudi throne, (due to him falling way too far from the tree called Rafik Hariri)? Is the keeping of him in Saudi Arabia a way to pressure that part of the Al-Saud clan into supporting MBS? Has it more to do with internal clan politics than about Lebanon? I guess time will tell soon enough.

Saudi Arabia did unblock the port of Yemen, so perhaps some major power such as Russia told MBS to behave if it didn't want to ostracize itself from a potential new semi-alliance with Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711081058925244-saudi-coalition-blockade-yemen-port/

Saudi-Led Coalition Removes Blockade on Major Yemeni Port of Aden

The port has been closed in the wake of a missile launched by Houthi rebels targeting Saudi Arabia.

A local source has told Sputnik that the Saudi-led coalition had removed the blockade of the major Yemeni port of Aden, which will now be able to resume receiving humanitarian aid.

"The leadership of the port has received the consent of the Arab coalition to resume work after three days since the announcement by the coalition on the closure of all sea, air and land harbors in Yemen," the source said.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry’s Twitter account, the coalition "took care of continuing the passage of aid and humanitarian goods" in Yemen.

 

[Joe]

This is all they have left? Transparent propaganda to try and create the 'reality' that Lebanon is a rogue state run by Hezbollah. They're trying scare up some international sanctions or something similar. Pretty pathetic.

 

[angelburst29]

Maybe, there will be 200 + less (rival) Guests at the up-coming Big Celebration and transfer of Power?

Saudi King Salman, 81, may abdicate from the throne in favor of his 32-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Arab media has reported in the light of seismic events that rocked the kingdom over the weekend.

Saudi King Will Reportedly Transfer Power to His Son in Coming Days
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711091058961447-saudi-king-crown-prince-power-transfer/

The king will announce the decision within "the next two nights," the Iranian news channel PressTV reported Wednesday, citing information from Rai al-Youm, a website publishing news and analyses on the Arab world.

Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi-owned television channel Al-Arabiya announced the news on Twitter, but later the post was deleted, according to the report.

The information is not officially confirmed. Riyadh has not made any statement regarding the issue.

The expected development marks a change in the order of succession in Saudi Arabia from lateral lines of elderly brothers to a vertical order under which the king hands power to his favorite son," PressTV reported.

For the first time, speculation of King Salman’s possible abdication had surfaced in late June when the monarch removed his nephew, then deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, from his position, making his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, heir apparent to the throne.

In September, the Lebanese broadcaster al-Manar reported citing sources close to the royal family that King Salman may soon step down due to health issues.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has already made headlines with his reforms.

Over 40 members of the royal family, including billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, ministers, military officials and businessmen, were arrested in Saudi Arabia on Sunday at the order of the kingdom’s newly established anti-corruption committee headed by the crown prince.

On April 25, 2016, the crown prince announced the Saudi Vision 2030 development plan. The document includes 80 projects, aimed at developing public service sectors, among others, and a number of women’s rights initiatives.

In late October, Mohammed bin Salman also spoke in favor of returning to "moderate Islam" and pledged to bring an end to extremism in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

In September, the Saudi government announced that it would ease restrictions on female spectators in sports stadiums and starting June 2018 all women in the country would be allowed to drive. Women in Saudi Arabia have been barred from driving since the late 1970s.

Reports said Saudi King Salman reportedly plans to relinquish power in favor of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has recently launched a self-promotion campaign under the cover of tackling high-level corruption.

Report: Saudi King to Relinquish Throne to Son by Next Two Nights
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960818000519

Rai al-Youm, an Arab world digital news and opinion website, reported that the king will announce the decision by “the next two nights,” presstv reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi-owned television news channel Al-Arabiya had announced the news in a Twitter message, but it retracted the post hours later.

Political analysts say the regime in Riyadh is apparently seeking to test the waters and examine public reaction regarding a surprise shift in power.

Since the establishment of Saudi Arabia as an absolute monarchy in 1932, the system has been effectively known as a hereditary dictatorship and monarchy.

The expected development marks a change in the order of succession in Saudi Arabia from lateral lines of elderly brothers to a vertical order under which the king hands power to his most eligible son.

Speculations of King Salman’s possible abdication surfaced in late June, when the monarch deposed his nephew, then deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef as the heir to the throne and offered the position to his favorite son, in what analysts described as a “political earthquake” back then.

On the same day that King Salman replaced bin Nayef with his own son, a well-known Saudi online activist, known on Twitter as @mujtahidd, predicted that King Salman would renounce power in favor of his son.

The whistleblower has already leaked documents indicating high-level corruption inside the Saudi royal family.

In early September, the website of Lebanon’s al-Manar channel reported that the 32-year-old bin Salman had formed a team of aides to prepare the kingdom for celebrating his succession to power as the new king.

The paper quoted sources close to the royal family as saying that King Salman was due to step down over his health issues. The sources then noted that bin Salman had ordered the kingdom’s security officials to increase supervision of royal figures to prevent any coup.

Since replacing his cousin bin Nayef in June, the 32-year-old bin Salman has embarked on a campaign to consolidate power, taking on rivals within the royal family.

Late Saturday, bin Salman sent shockwaves through the kingdom when he fired senior ministers and had dozens of the country’s richest men detained, ostensibly on the grounds of fighting corruption. The arrests included his cousin and one of the world's richest men, al-Waleed bin Talal.

Saudi Arabian authorities have announced the first results of its massive anti-corruption campaign.

Over 200 Detained on Corruption Charges in Saudi Arabia - Attorney General
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711091058967592-saudi-arabia-anto-corruption-campaign/

Over 200 have been detained for questioning amid anti-corruption investigation into the practices that resulted in misuse of at least $100 billion in Saudi Arabia, according to the country's attorney general.

"The investigations of the supreme anti-corruption committee are proceeding quickly, and we can provide the following updates: A total of 208 individuals have been called in for questioning so far. Of those 208 individuals, seven have been released without charge," Saud Mojeb said in a statement, as quoted by the Saudi Press Agency.

According to the official, the investigations had shown that more than $100 billion had been misused because of embezzlement and corruption.

Mohammed bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia's ex-crown prince who was removed as next in line to the throne in June, reportedly became the latest royal family member to be targeted in the kingdom's expanding anti-corruption crackdown.

Reports: Saudi 'Freezes Bank Accounts' of Former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960818000649

According to reports by several media outlets, bank accounts linked to Mohammed bin Nayef and some of his immediate relatives were frozen by Saudi authorities, Al Jazeera reported.

The freezing of Mohammed bin Nayef's accounts came as Saudi authorities launched a new arrest campaign as part of the widening purge that began on Saturday, according to Reuters.