The National quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the replacement of Saudi Arabia’s chief Syria advisor:
However, clearer coordination between the US and Saudi Arabia could lead to longer-term strategic gains for the opposition.
“Alignment on the issue of counter-terrorism would work towards rather than against political transition in Syria, so long as Saudi Arabia and the US shared broadly similar views about what constitutes a terrorist organisation,” said Faysal Itani, a fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank.
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“Closer Qatari-Turkish-Saudi alignment on the rebellion … is a significant development that could indeed help consolidate a rebel force or coalition of forces,” added Mr Itani. “Divisions between external rebel supporters working at cross-purposes was quite harmful.”