Saudi Arabia offers to send ground troops to fight ISIS in Syria

washingtontimes.com ^ | February 5, 2016 | Kellan Howell

[Berlin_Freeper]

Saudi Arabia for the first time as offered to send ground troops to Syria to help fight the Islamic State terror group, its defense ministry said Thursday.

“The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against the Islamic State) may agree to carry out in Syria,” said military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri during an interview with al-Arabiya TV news.

Thousands of special forces troops could be deployed, most likely in coordination with Turkey, Saudi officials told The Guardian. Both countries seek the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.

[Berlin_Freeper]

U.S. Department of Defense
WASHINGTON, February 5, 2016 — The Saudi Arabian government has indicated its willingness to do more with the coalition in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

Speaking with reporters after addressing airmen at the Air Force installation, Carter said he looks forward to discussing contributions to the accelerated anti-ISIL fight with the Saudis and 25 other nations next week in Brussels.

“The United States has very much indicated our desire to accelerate the campaign to defeat ISIL, [and] we'll do that better, and it'll be easier to sustain the defeat … if other countries that are part of the coalition accelerate their efforts at the same time,” Carter said.

[BlackVeil]

I think they just want to go to war against the Syrian regime. ISIS and the Syrian rebels are taking a hiding, and this may be a way for the Saudis to rescue them.

[grania]

If Saudi Arabia would stop sponsoring and harboring terrorists, that would be a whole lot of help.

[ronnie raygun]

Only because their a##es are threatened

[Jack Hammer]

obama won’t take kindly to the Saudis threatening his buddies.

[hoosiermama]

Someone is listening !

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

ISIS is a creation of Saudi. They want to protect them from Russia.

[mac_truck]

If Saudi Arabia would stop sponsoring and harboring terrorists, that would be a whole lot of help.

Or open a refugee center for fleeing civilians...

[Byron_the_Aussie]

.. thousands of special forces troops could be deployed, most likely in coordination with Turkey ..

' ... describing Saudi Arabia's planned invasion of Syria as 'sabre rattling', Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today that, in a secret training program, 24 Houthis from Yemen had graduated from fighter training school. All had been accredited on the Sukhoi 35-S jet fighter ..'

[PGalt]

Why don’t Saudis send ground troops to Barry and Hillary’s house? They created ISIS.

[rbg81]

Given that SA can’t even control what is happening in Yemen, I am not too impressed by this offer. Additionally, I could not trust SA to “fight” ISIS; they are just as likely to assist it against the Shites (e.g., Hezbollah).

[MasterGunner01]

And we all know what brilliant fighters the Saudis are (as long as hey have American muscle to back them). ISIS would clean the Saudis clocks in a head-to-head fight. Then Obama would really have to get serious about bombing Syria.

[bert]

recall if you will that it was a Qatari brigade that stopped the invading Iraqi troops at the Saudi border.

There’s more there than you give them credit for

[MasterGunner01]

I was referring to the Saudis themselves and not to whatever allies they may have. The Qatari brigade fought as allies to the Saudis, but they are not Saudis. Qatar is an independent country with its own military.

[arthurus]

The Sauds would probably have to rent the troops from somewhere to send more than a company.