The Proxy War: Lebanon and the Saudi-Iranian Conflict

Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprised of Bahrain Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have formally labelled Hezbollah, a political party and militia in Lebanon, a “terrorist organisation” as part of its hedging of Shia power in the region. GCC Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani of Bahrain rationalised the decision by noting how Hezbollah’s militia “recruited young people [from the Gulf] for terrorist acts.” This is aligned with the positions of the USA and the EU, who have labelled Hezbollah’s militant wing as an official “terrorist organisation”. This underscores the regional power struggle that continues to plunge the region into greater conflict.

Hezbollah is a legally registered Shia political party in Lebanon that also possesses a militant wing that is significantly powerful within Lebanon and the wider region, sometimes considered more powerful than the Lebanese army. However, tensions have flared regarding Hezbollah primarily because they are backed by Iran and are allies to the Assad regime in the Syrian civil conflict. They have been involved and are credited with emboldening the Assad against the rebels’ forces across the border since the beginning of the conflict in 2012.

This recent claim of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation has come weeks after Saudi Arabia retracted a $3 billion aid grant to Lebanon and its military on the basis that Lebanon has acted too lenient with Hezbollah and that Hezbollah’s views had influenced the primary government too greatly. A Saudi official referenced Lebanon’s conspicuous abstention in condemning the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran as part of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s resolutions in January. This was perceived as an abandonment of the long-standing alliance between Riyadh and Beirut, especially as Riyadh has funnelled a great deal of finance towards Beirut over the last couple of years, and support from Riyadh for Hezbollah in its conflict with Israel over the last three decades. However, the previously close relationship deteriorated with the intervention into Syria by Hezbollah.

This retraction of aid money was seen by Hezbollah Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, as a direct punishment of Lebanon and its political system: “The kingdom [Saudi Arabia] is trying to put pressure on the Lebanese to try to silence us but we will not be silent on the crimes the Saudis are committing in Yemen and elsewhere…If they have a problem with us let them keep it with us, and let them spare Lebanon…” In combination, the withdrawal of aid and deeming as a terrorist organisation serves to cut significant sources of funding for Hezbollah and its operations – this has substantial ramifications for Hezbollah’s operations, especially given that Hezbollah has been subject to international sanctions and its status as a terrorist organisation by powerful adversaries such as the US and the EU has already strained their financing.

This latest round of tensions comes in a series of power struggles between the regional leaders, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran condemned the recent labelling of Hezbollah as a ‘mistake,’ and that Iran was ‘proud’ of Hezbollah.

Geopolitical commentators are now questioning whether this direct hedging against Shia power will motivate further direct attacks by each; it may significant in the scheme of things or not. However it does underscore the regional fragmentation that is occurring and further dividing the region between Riyadh and Tehran. This proxy war has now meant the Lebanese police and military do not enjoy weapons or equipment, leaving Lebanon even more in the hands of Hezbollah. The delicate political situation in the region has the capacity to explode and this latest round of tension serves to complicate the already-complicated context.

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