WSJ: Saudi Arabia Blocked US Hormuz Op, Reversed After Washington Arms Threat
๐ก๏ธ RIYADH โ Riyadh blocked Project Freedom โ then reversed when US arms were threatened. ๐ 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 โ 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.