Shia-Sunni Divide or Something Else...? With 16 Muslim Nations in the Middle East, Why Is Iran Struggling Against Israel?

International News: The Iran-Israel war is taking the Middle East to the brink of destruction. Both countries are attacking each other. The Jewish country Israel is once again dominating the Shia Muslim country Iran. The special thing is that there are 16 Muslim countries in the Middle East including Saudi, Turkey, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, yet why are they seeing Iran getting beaten? Is the Shia and Sunni dispute the main root of this or is there some other reason. 

Let's Understand

There are many powerful Muslim countries in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, Turkey are Sunni Muslim countries, while Iran considers itself the well-wisher of Shia Muslims. Apart from this, there are Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Kuwait, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt and Libya. Most of these are Sunni Muslim countries, while Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon are a mix of Shia and Sunni. According to the media report, these countries are opposing the Israel-Iran war, but are not openly standing with Iran. The reason for this is also believed to be the rivalry between these countries. Actually, all the Muslim countries in the Middle East are entangled with each other. Some of them are facing proxy wars, while some are troubled by civil war. Where is the Shia-Sunni tension in the Middle East? 

1- Saudi Arabia Vs Iran 

The biggest Shia and Sunni tension in the Middle East is in Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both these countries have been indirectly attacking each other over this, although the situation has improved after China's mediation in 2023, but both the countries are still fighting proxy wars in countries like Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. According to a report by media, especially since 1979 when the Islamic Revolution arose in Iran. Its purpose is to increase the influence of Shia Muslims, which Saudi feels threatened. For this reason, Saudi Arabia continuously supports Sunni governments and rebels, while Iran supports Shia groups like Houthi and Hezbollah.

2- Yemen and Syria

In Yemen, there is tension between the Shia Muslim organization Houthi and the Saudi-backed Sunni government. Saudi Arabia and Iran are believed to be the reason for this. According to a report by the Council for Foreign Relations, Saudi Arabia, UAE and America have been continuously intervening in this war that has been going on since 2015. The same is the case with Syria, where Iran was supporting Hezbollah and former President Assad, while Saudi and Turkey were supporting the rebels who are currently in power in Syria.

3- Iraq-Lebanon and Bahrain

Iraq has had a Shia leadership since Saddam Hussein, which is being opposed by ISIS, which is a Sunni Muslim organization. In Lebanon, Shia-backed Hezbollah and Sunni political parties are face to face. A media report claims that both Saudi and Iran fund their own factions there. Bahrain is a Shia Muslim country but currently its rulers are from a Sunni Muslim family. Since 2011, there has been a conflict between the two sects here as well. Saudi has suppressed the conflict by sending troops here.

These Muslim countries are opposed to Iran in the Middle East

1- Saudi Arabia: This country considers itself the center of Sunni Islam, while Iran is the center of Shia Islam. Relations between the two countries deteriorated more since 2016 when a Shia Muslim cleric was hanged in Saudi Arabia.

2- Bahrain: In 2011, when the Shia public revolted against the government, the Bahrain government called it an Iranian conspiracy, according to a Reuters report, there has been tension between the two countries since then.

3- United Arab Emirates: UAE also does not like Iran because of its policies, in Yemen, it has also fought with Iran-backed Houthis along with Saudi.

4- Kuwait: Shias are considered a minority in this country. Iran has tried to interfere in politics here many times, which has created tension between the two countries.

5- Jordan: Iran does not have a direct conflict with Jordan, but this country sees Iran as a Shia expansionist threat, which sometimes leads to conflict between the two countries.