Background article on the Saudi failures. Worth reading in its entirety, but here's the most obvious conclusion:
Quote:
It is Saudi Arabia – and not its rivals – that is becoming isolated. The political balance of power in the region changed to its disadvantage over the last two years. Some of this predates the elevation of MbS: by 2015 it was becoming clear that a combination of Sunni states led by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey was failing to carry out regime change in Damascus. This powerful grouping has fragmented, with Turkey and Qatar moving closer to the Russian-backed Iranian-led axis, which is the dominant power in the northern tier of the Middle East between Afghanistan and the Mediterranean.
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Cracks in the House of Saud: the Pratfalls of the Crown Prince
Oh and Aoun of Lebanon (the Middle East's only Christian president) is pretty pissed off at the Saudis and gets his revenge in small ways:
Lebanon keeps Saudi ambassador waiting for a month