(MENAFN- Alghad Newspaper)
For the last two days, Saudi Arabia has been the centre of world events and the focus of global attention. In just one day, Riyadh has seen three major developments; the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri from the Saudi capital, the interception of an alleged Huothi ballistic missile by Saudi defences, and an unprecedented corruption probe that led to the detention of dozens of Saudi princes, ministers, officials, and prominent businessmen.
Indeed, it has been a busy night for Saudi!
Sequence aside, the proximity of those three events to each other highlights only the fundamental nature of Saudi's challenges, at this point, and the priorities of the regime!
Hariri's resignation from Saudi conveys a message to Iran that the Kingdom is going to expand its confrontation to include Lebanon, after a truce that lasted one year, and enabled Hezbollah to deliver an ally to the Presidential Palace.
Naturally, this allowed for President Michel Aoun to take hold of the domestic situation in Lebanon and fortify ties with the Syrian Regime in Damascus.
As drenched in the battle to contain Iran's regional influence as it may be, it seems Saudi has decided to take the battle from Yemen to new frontiers. Meanwhile, the Americans advance further economic and political sanctions against Iran to tighten their grip.
Typically, Iran spared no time in responding to Hariri's accusations.
In fact, some have speculated that the ballistic missile Saudi defences shot down, which was headed for the King Khaled International Airport, was Iran's first response to this escalation.
Despite the intensity of the situation, none of it prevented Riyadh from stepping up rearrangements to secure the domestic situation in Saudi.
Later that night, a royal decree was issued placing Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in charge of the higher anti-graft committee. Hours later, Saudi authorities launched major arrest campaigns that led to the arrests of once untouchable Saudi figures, and confiscated billions worth of property.
Most of the detainees are prominent players in Saudi's former eras, especially those who are said to have complained of the new Saudi situation, with the young crown prince consolidating power!
Had the authorities not quickly disclosed the charges of corruption, money laundry and misuse of public funds, it could easily been interpreted as a foiled coup.
Others think that these were only the beginning of a series of important steps the Saudi leadership is making.
Some of these decisions, like earlier ones, have given the leadership momentous popularity among Saudis, particularly youth, whom have been complaining about corruption among Saudi Royalty.
Without doubt, these steps, under the anti-graft charter, will definitely help the young prince with his economic reforms programme.
The crown prince's vision will push further Saudi's transformation from state patronage to modernity and the modern economy.
In any way, Saudi Arabia will remain under the world's microscope for a while.
Whichever path they choose, it is expected now that the unexpected, after this, and many a surprise, will soon unfold in Saudi Arabia!
This article is an edited translation of the Arabic version, published by AlGhad.
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