GCC Urges Nationals to Avoid Going to Lebanon as Arab League Condemns Hizbullah Activities in Syria
The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council urged their citizens on Wednesday to avoid traveling to Lebanon or staying in the country as “a safety precaution.”
“All six member states of the GCC call on their citizens not to travel to Lebanon and urge their nationals who are already in the country to leave it,” Council chief Abdullatif al-Zayani stressed during a press conference.
He elaborated: “We took this decision taking into consideration the current unstable situation in Lebanon, which is a threat to the nationals of GCC countries.”
Meanwhile, the Arab League on Wednesday condemned Hizbullah's involvement in the Syrian war.
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi announced after an extraordinary meeting of Arab foreign ministers that the resolution issued after the talks condemns “any intervention in Syria, especially by Hizbullah.”
"There were several points of views regarding Hizbullah and we decided to condemn any foreign interference in the Syrian conflict, especially Hizbullah's involvement,” al-Arabi told reporters.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Amr revealed that no party had reservations on the decision concerning Syria “except for Lebanon that distanced itself from this matter.”
The military support of Hizbullah has helped Syrian regime forces gain the upper hand in the battle for control of Qusayr, where an army assault began last month, amid a Lebanese, regional and international outcry.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah had previously justified the group's involvement in Syria by saying they were defending Lebanese-inhabited border villages inside Syria and Shiite holy sites.
But during a May 25 speech marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from Lebanon, Nasrallah said the Takfiris are the “most prevailing group in the Syrian opposition,” warning against a defeat against them in the ongoing war in Syria.
He said: “If Syria falls in the hands of the Takfiris and the United States, the resistance will become under a siege and Israel will enter Lebanon. If Syria falls, the Palestinian cause will be lost.”
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