Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram has led a wave of Lebanese and Arab celebrities expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia following recent attacks on Riyadh's international airport, but many have criticised them for selectively taking sides in the growing war engulfing Yemen.
Ajram posted a message on X backing the kingdom as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement intensifies.
"Lebanon and all the Arab countries are one homeland, and Saudi Arabia remains a country of goodness and safety," she wrote. "Our hearts are with you."
The message came after repeated attacks on King Khalid International Airport, which have killed and injured civilians and forced flight cancellations and diversions.
Ajram was joined by several other prominent Lebanese and Arab entertainers who make millions of dollars performing in Riyadh each year.
Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama said the suffering caused by war in one Arab country affected the wider region.
"Saudi Arabia is not merely a sister country," he wrote. "Its people are our people, and their pain is our pain."
He also called for peace and security to return to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the wider Arab world.
Egyptian actress Sherihan posted a separate message invoking Saudi Arabia's religious importance as the home of Islam's two holiest sites.
"May God protect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," she wrote.
Lebanese actress Maguy Bou Ghosn also expressed support for the Saudi people and said she hoped the kingdom, Lebanon and other Arab countries would see peace and prosperity.
The comments come amid growing uncertainty over Riyadh’s entertainment calendar as the war disrupts travel and security. Riyadh Season is still due to begin on 21 October, but other major events have already been cancelled or scaled back, while organisers of the Future Investment Initiative have introduced remote participation following the attacks on the capital.
The comments also prompted criticism over what some described as the selective nature of celebrities' public positions. Some on social media noted that many of the same stars had been far less vocal over Israeli attacks on Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen, including the continuing impact of strikes on communities in southern Lebanon.
Some also questioned whether professional interests played a role, pointing out that many Lebanese artists regularly perform in Saudi Arabia at events backed by the General Entertainment Authority.
The public statements come amid a renewed escalation in Yemen's war.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports and other infrastructure in recent weeks as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces mount new military operations against the group.
King Khalid International Airport has emerged as one of the principal targets.
A Houthi attack on the airport on Saturday killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.
The incident marked one of the deadliest attacks inside a Gulf Arab state since the latest regional escalation began.
The Houthis later claimed responsibility and warned airlines and travellers against using Saudi airports.
Saudi Arabia has responded with deadly strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.