Riyadh gave the Lebanese ambassador 48 hours to leave the country.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry on Friday gave the Lebanese ambassador 48 hours to leave the country.
Saudi Arabia on Friday gave the Lebanese ambassador 48 hours to leave the country and suspend the import of all Lebanese goods to the country.
Saudi Arabia has also recalled its ambassador to Beirut.
Tensions between the Saudis and Lebanon escalated after a quote from the Lebanese Minister of Information on the Saudi coalition’s aggression against Yemen was released.
Prior to joining Najib Mikati, the Lebanese Minister of Information, George Qardahi, was a well-known Lebanese presenter, media activist, and journalist who explicitly stressed the need to stop the aggression against Yemen in a television program known as “Berlman Shaab” (People’s Parliament). .
Asked how he assessed the current developments in Yemen, he said, “The brutal aggression against Yemen, which has been going on for eight years, must stop. “What the Yemenis are doing is their legal right to defend themselves, and I respect the resilience of the Yemeni people in the face of this aggression.”
Following the interview, some Lebanese media outlets strongly criticized Qardahi’s remarks, and Lebanese sources close to Saudi claimed that the remarks would lead to a new diplomatic crisis between Beirut and Riyadh.
However, in response to the media attacks, Qardahi said he had no intention of insulting Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“This interview took place on August 5, one month before I was appointed Minister in the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati,” he added.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah later issued a statement acknowledging the “information and courageous position of the Minister of Information in defense of the oppressed people of Yemen.”
Hezbollah’s statement said: “We categorically reject any request to remove Qardahi or force him to resign.”
The movement stressed that such demands are a clear violation of Lebanon’s dignity and sovereignty.
