WSJ: Saudi Arabia Blocked US Hormuz Op, Reversed After Washington Arms Threat
🛡️ RIYADH — Riyadh blocked Project Freedom — then reversed when US arms were threatened. 📌 LOOK CLOSER: WSJ confirms Riyadh refused US bases and airspace for Project Freedom, aborting the op. Washington threatened to delay critical air defense interceptor deliveries — Riyadh reversed. This reframes the Hormuz crisis: 80 mines persisted partly because Saudi neutrality delayed US operations. It also sets a ceiling on Riyadh's leverage: the kingdom folds when US arms are the cost of defiance.
