On balance, Tehran has decided the Arab Revolt is not good for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nullifying Western influence is good, but the rise of Sunni strength is not, while the revolt engulfing Syria is endangering Iran's nearest and dearest ally. And can Tehran be sure the malaise ...

Saudi Arabia is importing thousands of Pakistani Sunnis to Bahrain, soldiers and complete famlies, to offset the Shiite majority population. After declaring the special relationship with the US history, Riyadh is venturing across new diplomatic frontiers : Through Islamabad, Riyadh is also opening the door to a Chinese foothold and influence in ...

The accord reached between Saudi King Abdullah and the Bahraini monarch Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa for the oil island's virtual annexation by Riyadh has so incensed Tehran that armed Iranian-Saudi clashes with the potential for all-out warfare may be unavoidable, debkafile's sources estimate.
Shiite-ruled Iraq would back Tehran in the first Shiite-Sunni collision to be sparked by the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world.  The annexation was first revealed by DEBKA-Net-Weekly on March 25.

Saudi Arabia ranges defenses against Iran, is willing to swap gesture favoring coalition operation in Libya for recognition of its takeover of Bahrain.

The Saudi-led GCC forces in Bahrain to support the king face the onset of a Shiite guerrilla war organized by Hizballah on Iran's behalf. They all understand that this war will spread further.

By stepping into Bahrain, the Saudis took the calculated risk of accelerating Sunni-Shiite discord across the region. Because of the challenge to its religious supremacy from Iraq, Tehran is re-thinking the wisdom of its decision to hijack the Arab uprisings.

The contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the Sunni-Shiite split in the Arab world were ramped up Wednesday March 16 by the Bahraini security crackdown launched with tanks and helicopters to drive the mostly Shiite protesters out of Manama's main square and key points of the island-state while Saudi troops guarded strategic areas. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi warned: “The unexpected interference of foreign forces in popular uprisings in different countries including Bahrain will have dangerous consequences."

What led the Saudi-led GCC army units to jump unhesitatingly into Bahrain while the US and Europe dithered over Libya? Tehran won't take this lying down. In its latest issue out Friday, DEBKA-Net-Weekly outlines the potential military showdown between Iran and Saudi Arabia, explores US-Israeli intelligence blindness on Egypt, and reveals how the Libyan conflict is enriching both sides - Muammar Qaddafi and his opponents – as well as global arms traffickers.
To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weekly, click here

The Saudi force that went into Bahrain Monday, March 14, along with UAE and Kuwaiti units, to stabilize the royal regime is larger than reported, consisting of a National Guard brigade, a mechanized brigade of the Saudi army and a tank battalion – altogether 3,500 men. Until recently close American allies, the two Gulf rulers flouted President Obama's policy of supporting popular uprisings, encouraged by Qaddafi gaining the upper hand against Libya's rebels and Washington's constraints against military intervention.

King Abdullah warns his princes and fellow-Arab rulers not to rely on the United States to rescue them from domestic unrest or any other threats. He blames Washington for failure to quell Bahrain troubles.

As protesters prepare for Saudi Arabia's Day of Rage on March 11, fears grow across the Arab Gulf that the fall of Saudi King Abdullah will start a chain reaction against the emirs too and rock the world's oil markets.

The Middle East and North Africa are beset with two civil wars, have brought to power two military juntas, imperil seven regimes, including Pakistan and provided Al Qaeda with fresh fields to conquer.

Tanks rolled into Pearl Square, Manama, early Thursday, Feb. 17, personally commanded by King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, hours after his police failed to break up a protest rally. At least four protesters were killed and dozens injured. debkafile: Unlike the other uprisings sweeping the region, Tehran is dabbling hard in Bahrain with an eye on Shiite revolts in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf. At home, Iran is expanding executions of protesters.