by Rosie Alfatlawi
An animated propaganda-style video showing Saudi Arabia “liberating” Iran has been branded “delusional” on social media.
Unbelievable! Saudi propaganda video (inadvertently) depicts Saudis as aggressors invading Iran, and then greeted by Iranians as liberators!!
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) December 16, 2017
Delusion does not even begin to describe Saudi thinking.
But of course, Saudi wants the US to fight Iran for ithttps://t.co/74HRHQKMZk
Produced by online account “Saudi Deterrent Force”, the six-minute clip shows a quivering Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, surrendering to invading troops.
Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, is depicted in cartoon form, running the operation from a command center.
The animation shows the destruction of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and Mehrabad airport, before forces are seen overrunning Tehran, welcomed by Iranians waving Saudi flags.
“Peace be upon you, we are with you,” read flyers dropped from a Saudi plane.
@Saudi_S_force, which has a modest 12,500 following on Twitter, has produced English, Persian, Hebrew, Chinese, Turkish and Spanish versions of its video, released Friday.
While the page is not an official source, the clip was reportedly shared on the website of Saudi pro-government newspaper Al Riyadh and by Sabq online newspaper.
"Powerful work,” wrote Saudi commenters on Twitter, “this is something to make us lift up our heads [with pride].”
“Outstanding work which shows the strength of the kingdom to deter the henchmen,” tweeted @tare27k.
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Outside Saudi Arabia, however, the clip has gone down less well, variously described as “cheap,” “amateurish,” “bizarre” and “like a video-game.”
In the delusional world of Saudi Arabia, Saudis invade Iran, take over the country and are greeted as liberators by Iranians who hold MBS posters.
— Serge (@Zinvor) December 17, 2017
You can't make this shit up. Try not to laugh. pic.twitter.com/9rOSoPVsJu
Comparisons have been made between the simulation and North Korean propaganda.
The accent placed on U.S.-made weapons in the video has led some to jokingly question whether it was produced by an American weapons company or the Pentagon.
Many have pointed out that to boast of Saudi military strength ignores Riyadh’s failure to secure victory in a nearly three-year war against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
@atwaniyat tweeted: “Saudi Arabia enters Tehran in an animation, and this after three years of [operation] "Decisive Storm" against Yemen without results!”
2 years bogged down in Yemen missile hit Riyadh from Yemen and they are deluded to think mbs posters will be held by Iranians. They will burn them in the streets. Also qassem Solemani hiding in a room shaking not his style at all. Comedy value at its best
— audel shirin (@AudelShirin) December 16, 2017
Tweets mocked Saudi military capacity in general, which they suggested was vastly exaggerated by the video.
وهذه الحقيقه pic.twitter.com/IjyOyMjauF
— چولة (@ChoolahQatar) December 16, 2017
And this is the reality.
In fact, a piece by Business Insider on Saturday suggested that, despite massive defense spending, the Saudi military is “ineffective.”
"The fact is, Iran is better at doing this stuff," the article quoted Gulf military specialist Michael Knights as saying.
"There's nobody in the Iranian General Staff that's afraid of Saudi Arabia on the ground," he added.
In a reflection of recent events, some on social media even responded to the new clip by asking why Saudi Arabia did not deploy its apparent might against Israel.
Growing reports of improving ties between Riyadh and Tel Aviv have angered many in the Arab world who see it as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.
The two nations share a strong animosity towards Tehran, and the head of the Israeli military has publicly indicated his willingness to share intelligence to counter Iran.
This clip might not have been produced by the Saudi state, but it could well have been.
In November, Bin Salman described the Supreme Leader of Iran as "the new Hitler of the Middle East," in what was seen as an escalation of the war of words between the two regional powers.
