...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula, largely made up of sand and oil rigs. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual haj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Formerly dictatorial and steeped in Olde Tyme Religion, deferring to Salafist holy men on all issues, it has now done a 180 and is making a serious effort to modernize, so as not to be left in the sand by its Gulf Arab neighbors. The holy men have been shoved to the background and the nation is now still dictatorial but somewhat rational. That doesn't make them trustworthy, but it's a start...dismissed Salafi leader Abdulrahman al-Loum from his post as commander of the ''Al-Buqa'' front near the Najran
a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a favored target of Houthi rocket forces because they can see it, so there's no math involved....
border.
The Saudi decision has sparked anger among al-Loum's loyal recruits, especially following the appointment of Salafi leader Raddad al-Hashimi as the new commander of the so-called ''Al-Buqa and Kitaf Axis.''
In response, the recruits have strongly rejected the decision, taking up arms to voice their opposition. They gathered from various military sites, traveling in military vehicles to the command headquarters to protest, as tensions rise between al-Loum's supporters and those loyal to al-Hashimi. This could potentially lead to an armed clash between the two factions.
Al-Hashimi called on the so-called ''military police'' to quell the rebellion and restore order, as the recruits demand al-Loum's reinstatement.
It's important to note that Saudi Arabia has recruited thousands of Salafi fighters and southern mercenaries in recent years, using them as a buffer to protect its borders from retaliatory strikes by forces loyal to Sana'a.