Lebanon becomes latest casualty of Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry
Unless the new Lebanese government can gain distance from Hezbollah’s control, the Gulf may fail to be the saving grace the country so desperately needs.
Four Gulf states recalled their diplomats from Beirut in late October, pushing Lebanon further into isolation. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia in this official diplomatic action after Lebanese information minister George Kordahi publicly criticized Riyadh’s role in the Yemen conflict. In the eyes of the Gulf states, Kordahi’s comments, which paint the Iranian-linked Houthis in a positive light, showcase Iran’s expanding foothold in Lebanon’s polity. The Gulf states’ unified reaction to Hezbollah’s perceived dominance in Beirut underscores the depth of the Saudi-Iranian rivalry while also adding another blow to the already unstable country.
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