Saudi experts: Media narratives, the hidden battlefield of Feb. 28 war
RIYADH: Saudi media experts have affirmed that contemporary conflicts are no longer waged by military means alone but through “narrative wars,” pointing to the US-Israeli-Iranian war as evidence that media is not a neutral conduit but a principal actor in shaping the balance of power.
The remarks came during a symposium on Thursday titled “Media Narratives: The US-Israeli-Iranian War,” organized by Ibrahim Al-Mohanna, chair for energy and specialized media at King Saud University.
Al-Mohanna, adviser to the minister of energy, underscored the strong and enduring link between oil prices and media, noting that this connection gains critical importance during economic, political, and military crises. “Media, through its various platforms, becomes not just a vital means of communication, but the compass guiding the market and prices,” he said.
He explained that after the US war on Iran began on Feb. 28, “the pace of events was extremely rapid, and oil prices fluctuated wildly, even within a single day, leading to a fog of information and an unclear picture of reality.” This, he added, resulted in “weak and fragmented media coverage of energy issues and a lack of sound oil analysis.”
