{
  "id": 7820881,
  "title": "Even an attack on Mecca isn't enough to unite the Middle East against Iran, analyst tells 'Post'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/even-an-attack-on-mecca-isnt-enough-to-unite-the-middle-east-against",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T16:18:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-908807"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Even an attack on Islam's most sacred city, Mecca, has failed to unite the Middle East in a common response to the Iranian axis, according to Bahraini political analyst Dr. Ahmed Alkhuzaie. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Alkhuzaie lamented the dysfunctionality of Middle Eastern states for years, leaving them unable to effectively counter threats from the Iranian axis. Despite choosing political ideologies over sustainability and religion, Alkhuzaie pointed out that only Morocco and Jordan have managed to align with Gulf states. Lebanon remains occupied with reasserting sovereignty, Egypt focuses on financial difficulties, and Algeria considers other allegiances, particularly after severing diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates. Alkhuzaie predicted further reshuffling in regional alliances, including the recently signed Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. With this backdrop, he theorized that some Arab nations might gravitate towards Israel, prioritizing sovereignty over ideological purity. However, the attack on Mecca has provided a rare opportunity to demonstrate that the attack is not a religious war as Iran claims. Instead, it is clear that neither the Houthis nor Iran care about religion as they portray it. This revelation has given Muslims across the region hope, and Yossi Shelley, Israel's ambassador to the UAE, suggested that Kuwait might join the Abraham Accords within four to six months. Despite Kuwait's recent amendments to its Israel boycott law, Alkhuzaie believes the attack clearly exposed the gap between Iran's narrative and actions, leading to the Houthis' denial of responsibility and potential shift to blaming Israel, aiming to incite further conflict.",
  "summary": "The attack on Mecca has demonstrated that ‘this is not a religious war,’ even if Iran has attempted to portray it as such, Bahraini political analyst Dr. Ahmed Alkhuzaie said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "Iranian and Saudi panellists spar at Xiangshan Forum over Middle East attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/iranian-and-saudi-panellists-spar-at-xiangshan-forum-over-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-09-16T13:53:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}