27 February 2016•Update: 09 May 2016
By Rabia al-Sokkary
CAIRO
A recent visit by a Hezbollah delegation to Egypt to offer condolences over the death of prominent journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal is likely to cast a shadow over Cairo’s relations with ally Saudi Arabia.
It was the group’s first visit since the popular uprising that unseated long-serving autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
Egyptian authorities have accused Hezbollah of conspiring to carry out “terrorist attacks” in Egypt during the anti-Mubarak uprising.
“The visit is likely to cause complications with Saudi Arabia if the [Hezbollah] delegation meets with Egyptian officials,” political analyst Hasan Nafaa told Anadolu Agency.
Last week, Saudi Arabia canceled a promised $3-billion grant earmarked for the Lebanese army and an additional $1-billion grant for the country’s internal security forces.
Saudi Arabia accuses Hezbollah of serving as a proxy for Iran and of hijacking Lebanese policy-making. Since 2012, Hezbollah has sent fighters into Syria to support the Assad regime, a close ally of Tehran. Riyadh, meanwhile, remains one of Assad’s staunchest foes.
Hezbollah denounced Saudi military intervention in Yemen, where Riyadh is leading a fierce air campaign against the Shia Houthi militant group.
Mediation
Nafaa believes that “the Egyptian position should not be perceived as if it was a kind of support for Assad, Hezbollah, Iran or Syria,” he said. “The Egyptian position on the Syrian conflict ;is not fully understood' by Saudi Arabia. Egypt fears Syria’s division,” Nafaa said.
“Cairo does not care whether Assad remains in power or not,” he added.
Egypt is calling for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, which fell into civil war in 2011 after the Assad regime suppressed pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
Egypt also supports Russian airstrikes in Syria, another point of contention for Riyadh.
As for the recent crisis between Riyadh and Beirut, Nafaa said Egypt plays a major role in resolving inter-Arab conflicts.
“In terms of the Saudi-Lebanese crisis, Egypt’s role depends on the sensitivity of relations between all parties, and whether Egyptian mediation will be welcomed by all,” he said.
Asked about what Lebanon expects from Egypt, Nafaa said “Egypt can train the Lebanese army and hold joint military drills similar to those conducted by Cairo with other Arab countries.”
No effect
Military expert Mohamed Ali Belal told Anadolu Agency that “the visit will not usher in any change in the Egyptian policy toward Hezbollah.”
Belal also ruled out holding any official meeting between the Hezbollah delegation and Egyptian officials in Cairo.
“There is no rapprochement between Egypt and Hezbollah,” he said. “The Egyptian side only supports Lebanon and Lebanese stability. Hezbollah is trying to appease certain Arab countries, including Egypt.”
“Egypt will not prevent anyone from offering condolences over the death of one of the most important journalists in the Arab world,” he added, in reference to Heikal.
