Arab world split in reactions to killing of Hezbollah chief Nasrallah

30/9/2024 11:34

        Israel's killing of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was met with silence by many Sunni-led states across the region, showcasing the split between
        populations outraged at Israel and authorities who normalised ties with Israel or are opposed to Hezbollah's patron Iran.
        
        Nasrallah, who led the powerful Shi'ite armed group for 32 years, made regional enemies beyond Israel and the West. Gulf countries and the broader Arab League designated his group a "terrorist organization" in 2016, although the League retracted the designation earlier this year.
        
        Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia said in a statement late on Sunday that it is following the developments in Lebanon with "grave concern", and urged the preservation of the sovereignty and regional security of Lebanon. But it made no mention of Nasrallah.
        
        And Sunni-ruled states Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have stayed completely quiet on Nasrallah's killing. The UAE and Bahrain normalised ties with Israel in 2020, and Bahrain quashed a sizeable pro-democracy uprising by its Shi'ite community in 2011.