Strong Gulf condemnation of Hezbollah's interference in Bahrain
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, expressed his strong condemnation and denunciation of the irresponsible statements issued by leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, specifically Naim Qassem. This condemnation comes amidst escalating events, as Hezbollah's interference in Bahrain a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and the principles of good neighborliness. These statements addressed Bahrain's internal affairs, criticizing the legal and sovereign measures taken by the Manama government against individuals proven to be involved in crimes against their country, including espionage with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to carry out terrorist and hostile acts that harm the Kingdom's interests and threaten the safety of its citizens.
The roots of tension and efforts to destabilize the region
This Gulf stance was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather stems from a long history of tensions and confrontations with extremism. In 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states made a decisive decision to designate Hezbollah, with all its leaders, factions, and affiliated organizations, as a terrorist organization. This landmark decision came as a result of the continued hostile activities perpetrated by members of this militia, including repeated attempts to recruit young people from GCC countries to carry out terrorist acts, as well as smuggling weapons and explosives. These ongoing activities aim to incite sedition, chaos, and violence, constituting a blatant violation of the sovereignty, national security, and stability of the Gulf states and their peaceful societies.
Regional repercussions of rejecting Hezbollah's intervention in Bahrain
The firm Gulf stance against Hezbollah's interference in Bahrain carries significant strategic importance at the local, regional, and international levels. Locally, this position underscores the Gulf states' unwavering support for the Kingdom of Bahrain's right to protect its internal security and rigorously enforce the law against anyone who dares to threaten the nation's stability. Regionally, the Gulf Cooperation Council sends a clear and direct message that the security of the Arabian Gulf is indivisible, and that any attempt to breach this security will be met with a unified and decisive response from all member states. Internationally, these condemnations bolster global efforts to combat terrorism and cut off its funding sources, and highlight the destructive role played by armed militias in undermining peace and development efforts in the Middle East.
Supporting legitimate Lebanese institutions and rejecting chaos
In a related context, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stressed the complete rejection of all practices that threaten the security and stability of Lebanon and its brotherly people, warning against attempts to spread chaos and division within Lebanese society. He emphasized that any attempts to keep Lebanon in a state of successive crises, or to threaten its constitutional and legitimate institutions, are unacceptable regionally and internationally. He reiterated the GCC's support for the constructive steps taken by legitimate Lebanese institutions to maintain security and extend state sovereignty. He also called on all Lebanese political factions and parties to rally around the national state project and the reformist approach, and to work diligently to extricate Lebanon from its crises, thus contributing to achieving security, stability, and prosperity for the brotherly Lebanese people, free from foreign interference and destructive agendas.
