Due To The Conflict In Yemen, Saudi Arabia Has Dismissed The Lebanese Ambassador.
Written byTimes Magazine
Key Sentence:
- Saudi Arabia has ordered the Lebanese ambassador to leave within 48 hours of making "insulting" remarks by a Lebanese minister.
- The kingdom also imposed a total ban on all imports from Lebanon.
The move comes days after statements by the Lebanese Information Minister about Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen sparked outrage in the kingdom. Bahrain and Kuwait also followed suit and ordered the expulsion of the Lebanese ambassador over the dispute. The Lebanese prime minister said he regretted the Saudi decision and hoped they would reconsider.
The Arab League said on Saturday it was concerned about deteriorating relations and urged Gulf countries "to review the proposed measures ... to avoid further negative effects on the collapsing Lebanese economy". In an interview broadcast earlier this week but recorded in August, Lebanese Information Minister George Kordakhi appears to have identified Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as aggressors in the war in Yemen.
For seven years, a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, made up mostly of Sunni-Muslim-Arab countries, has been battling the Shiite Houthi rebel movement in Yemen. Kordahi, who spoke before becoming minister, called the conflict "useless" and said the Hutu acted in "self-defense."
Both Saudi Arabia and the rebels have received international criticism for alleged atrocities in Yemen. But the Lebanese government said Kordahi's remarks did not reflect his position. Relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have deteriorated in recent years. The Iran-backed extremist group Hezbollah, which also supports the Houthi rebels in Yemen, has flourished in Lebanon.
Mr. Kordahi is a member of the political bloc, an ally of Hezbollah.
Within hours of Saudi Arabia's announcement, nearby Bahrain expelled its Lebanese ambassador before Kuwait followed suit. The two countries - members of the Gulf Cooperation Council - are close allies of Saudi Arabia.
The slump in relations comes when Lebanon grapples with an economic crisis and political battles deepen. Fuel shortages have leading to blackouts with rapid inflation, leaving much from the country poor and unable to afford basic necessities. In response to the deepening international scandal, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he deeply regrets Saudi Arabia's decision and will work to restore relations.
"We will continue to work to get what needs to be done," he said.
The latest reason is the appearance of the old comments of the Lebanese Minister of Information. But the most significant danger in Saudi Arabia is the increasing dominance of Hezbollah in Lebanon, a heavily armed Shiite movement backed by Iran. Riyadh has always wanted the group's grip to be reduced.
The departure of the ambassadors put more pressure on Lebanon. At the height of such an economical and political crisis, many wonder how many more blows it could take before it collapses.
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