Tensions Between Riyadh and Baghdad; Saudi Arabia Leaves Arab League Meeting

The Saudi delegation left the Arab League meeting in protest against the Iraqi Foreign Minister's defense of Hezbollah. At the end of the meeting, the Arab League foreign ministers listed Hezbollah as a 'terrorist' group. A source in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry told Reuters that the Saudi delegation left the 145th Arab League Foreign Ministers' meeting held in Cairo on Friday, March 21, after Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, defended Iraqi Shiite militias and Hezbollah. The source stated, 'The Saudi delegation left the meeting hall after the Iraqi Foreign Minister's speech, in which he opposed the accusations against Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi Shiite militias) and other resistance groups.' The source added that Ibrahim al-Jaafari stated in his speech, 'Hashd al-Shaabi and Hezbollah have preserved the dignity of Arabs, and anyone who accuses them of terrorist acts is a terrorist themselves.' Reuters reported that it could not obtain a response from the Saudi Foreign Ministry regarding this matter. However, the Al Arabiya news network close to Saudi Arabia published this news. Following recent sectarian tensions in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, tensions between Riyadh and Baghdad have also increased. The Gulf Cooperation Council has listed Hezbollah, which is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a terrorist group. This action came after increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and its allies with Iran. After attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, which occurred in protest against the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a Shiite cleric sentenced by a Saudi court, Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with Tehran. Subsequently, several of Saudi Arabia's allies cut or downgraded their diplomatic relations with Iran. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador in Baghdad about two months ago for accusing the Hashd al-Shaabi militias of exacerbating sectarian tensions. The Hashd al-Shaabi militias are also supported by the Iranian Republic. In the meantime, AFP reported that the foreign ministers of Arab League countries voted at the end of the meeting on Friday to classify Hezbollah as a 'terrorist' group. The report states that the decision was made with the majority of members voting in favor, with only Iraq and Lebanon opposing it.