[achenet]

Forgive the uninformed question, but doesn't Saudi Arabia also have significant armed forces? Given that Iran has closed the Straights of Hormuz and attacked several other Arab states, and has conducted strikes in Saudia Arabia itself, wouldn't that give Saudia Arabia a solid reason to strike back?

[thisislife2]

Iran has threatened to attack Saudi oil infrastructure if the Saudis join the Israel-American war on Iran. The Iran War Is Destroying Something More Valuable Than Oil - https://houseofsaud.com/iran-war-refinery-crisis-saudi-aramc... As it has become clear that the US missile defence shield over Saudi Arabia is inadequate (as the US can't provide enough interceptors), the Saudis have decided to be cautious.

[vjvjvjvjghv]

From what I have read, their armed forces aren’t very motivated. There are stories about pilot trainings where the pilots were a bunch of rich guys that got into their jet, took off with full afterburner, did some fun loops and landed after using up their fuel.

Saudi has the advantage that they have the US doing the dirty work for them. No need to do much themselves.

[ABoredBirb]

Arab militaries, whilst sometimes well equipped, are thoroughly incompetent, possibly by design. They are not a major factor here.

[fakedang]

Many former army personnel have told me that the militaries of Oman (British-trained and equipped) and UAE (Australian and British-trained, US-equipped) are better in terms of capability and valor than most European countries, including even Germany's. Where they do face issues is in equipment stockpiles and sustaining conflict, which is what we've seen.

The Saudi main army is pretty incompetent, but the Royal Guard is extremely effective. They are separately trained by the West and maintain comms separate from the main army. And now they've teamed up with Pakistan, which has one of the best air forces in the region.

Qatar recently opened up a route for citizenship to foreign veterans who serve in their armed forces. That guarantees them a steady supply of soldiers from the region should the need arise.

The most vulnerable are Bahrain and Kuwait, but both of them have had help with security actions from their more competent neighbors.

[overfeed]

Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes in Iran - but geography is a good reason not to want to escalate hostilities, despite the generational animus between the countries.

[8note]

last time ksa went to war it was against yemen, and didnt go very well.

[tibbydudeza]

A show army - the monarchy don't trust an army of rural peasants - they might get ideas and stage a coup.

[pianopatrick]

I think the threats from Iran are causing the Saudis to not strike Iran. The Saudis don't want their infrastructure blown up by missiles from Iran.