Israel’s killing of Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has sparked mixed reactions across the Middle East. While many Sunni-led states have remained silent, others have expressed concern over the implications of the assassination.
There has been a noticeable split between the general population, who are outraged at Israel’s actions, and the authorities who have normalized ties with Israel or are opposed to Hezbollah’s ties with Iran. Gulf countries and the Arab League had previously designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, but the League retracted the designation earlier this year.
Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-ruled state, has voiced concern over the situation in Lebanon but made no mention of Nasrallah. Similarly, other Sunni-ruled states like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have remained silent on the matter. The UAE and Bahrain have normalized ties with Israel, while Bahrain has a history of suppressing pro-democracy movements within its Shi’ite community.
In contrast, Syria and Iraq have declared a three-day mourning period for Nasrallah, highlighting the regional divide in reactions to his death. Online, Nasrallah’s name has been trending in many Arab states, with some expressing grief over his loss while others criticize his actions, particularly his involvement in the Syrian civil war.
Overall, the assassination of Nasrallah has reignited tensions in the region, with different countries and populations reacting in diverse ways. The repercussions of his death are likely to reverberate across the Middle East in the coming days and weeks, prompting questions about the future of Hezbollah and the wider geopolitical landscape in the region.
