Assertive Riyadh risks escalation

Saudi Arabia’s execution of a leading Shia cleric reflects an assertive but risky new approach that threatens to escalate its proxy wars with arch-rival Iran in Syria and Yemen, experts said Sunday.

The United States said Nimr al-Nimr’s execution “risks exacerbating sectarian tension”, while the European Union warned of “dangerous consequences” across the volatile region.

Awadh al-Qirni, a prominent Sunni cleric who backs the government against the jihadists, tweeted that the executions were “a message to the world and to criminals that there will be no snuffing out of our principles and no complacency in our security”.

“Iran betted in the past on a hesitant foreign and domestic Saudi policy, but over the past year, things have completely changed and Riyadh has assumed a position that is rather provocative towards Tehran,” said Mahjoob al-Zweiri, professor of Middle Eastern studies at Qatar University.

[Our Islamabad correspondent adds that Saudi foreign minister Adil Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on Sunday postponed his visit to Pakistan, hours before he was due to arrive in the capital on a two-day official tour.]

Nearly a year ago, King Salman succeeded his half brother Abdullah as the monarch of the region’s Sunni heavyweight.

In March, Saudi Arabia took the unforeseen step of leading an Arab military intervention in neighbouring Yemen bu launching air raids against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

“Riyadh presses ahead with its actions without giving much thought to reactions,” Mr Zweiri said, adding, “It seems that there is a belief now that proactive and determined policies by Saudi Arabia could achieve results, including responding to Iran and its policies in the region.”

Nimr, 56, was executed along with 46 other men.