As the dramatic series of events in Saudi Arabia has captured international attention, Bahrain has also seized the moment to flex its regional muscles.
Close on the heels of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's resignation in Riyadh on Saturday, Bahrain ordered its citizens to depart from Lebanon and cautioned against citizens traveling to the Mediterranean country.
"Due to the current conditions and developments in Lebanon, the foreign ministry asks citizens present in Lebanon to leave immediately and exercise extreme caution," Bahrain's foreign ministry said in a statement, according to Khaleej Times.
News of Saudi Arabia evacuating embassy staff from Beirut also circulated in Lebanon, however, the kingdom has officially denied those reports.
Bahrain also on Saturday issued a statement claiming its right to territory currently under Qatar's governance.
"Bahrain has lost part of its sovereign entity when Doha cut off from its sovereign borders. These borders are well-documented in contemporary history and were known by every single one in the early 1900s," the kingdom said in a press release.
"The Kingdom of Bahrain has every right to claim what was cut off forcibly from its land and to dispute the legitimacy of the Qatari rule on the northern territory," Bahrain said.
Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have been boycotting Qatar since summer, accusing Doha's leaders of supporting terrorism in the region.
Qatar has denied all allegations while cozying up to Iran and Turkey, and also granting visa-free access to Lebanese citizens.
Hariri, during his resignation speech, cited the influence of Iran on his country and fear for his life. The Lebanese politician, who is also a Saudi citizen, is widely believed to rely heavily on the support of Riyadh to maintain his legitimacy.
Since becoming prime minister last year, Hariri brought together a unity government that included representatives of Hezbollah, an Islamist political group supported by Iran. Despite forming the government with the political party, Hariri remained a staunch critic of the group and its leaders.
Now, with Hariri's resignation, many have expressed fears over Lebanon's continued stability as tensions continue to rise between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Bahrain's order to its citizens and its statements regarding Qatar were timed to coincide with a series of dramatic events in Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh has also reiterated its opposition to Iran and its allies, such as Hezbollah.
Whether or not other Gulf nations will follow Bahrain's lead in banning citizens from visiting Lebanon remains to be seen.