crackdown on the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, which eventually spiraled into a civil war.

Damascus' return to the organization remains unlikely in the near future. The regime in Syria is angry with Saudi Arabia and Qatar for providing support to rebels who fought against Assad.

While Arab leaders displayed unity over the Golan Heights, the nations still face a host of other divisive issues such as the war in Yemen, Iran, and the prolonged crisis in Libya, as well as unrest in Algeria and Sudan.

Qatar - Gulf Cooperation Council disputes over the years Severed ties, broken trust Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival, Iran. Doha denies the claim. SAthe United Nations International Court of Justice. Armed confrontation between the two countries had been narrowly avoided in 1986 due to timely Saudi intervention. Later, the ICJ ruled in favor of Bahrain. Qatar was awarded the Janan Islands. Author: Aasim Saleem



Qatar row on display

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also remain at odds with Qatar, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism and moving closer to Iran.

The Sunday summit was the first event to bring the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to the same table since 2017, when Riyadh imposed sanctions on Doha.

However, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani unexpectedly left the summit hall shortly after the opening session. Qatar media confirmed the ruler had left and the rest of the delegation was still at the