Reports: KSA Gives Lebanon Ultimatum, Kordhai Resignation May Defuse Crisis

Riyadh has given Lebanon a two-day ultimatum to address the diplomatic crisis or else it will sever ties with Lebanon, media reports said on Monday.

“It has been understood that the sacking or resignation of Information Minister George Kordahi would return the relation to the phase that preceded his remarks, which means that Riyadh will maintain its stance on the government and will not offer any assistance to Lebanon,” al-Akhbar newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying.

“In the face of the rejection of resignation, Riyadh has clearly started the ‘divorce measures’ with the Lebanese state and all its institutions, and it intends to up the level of the siege through slapping sanctions on Lebanese entities and figures on charges of working against its interests or supporting terror,” the sources added.

Other sources said KSA might ask allied parties in Lebanon, such as the Lebanese Forces and al-Mustaqbal Movement, to “resign from parliament” in order to paralyze it along with the government.

Progressive Socialist Party sources meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that “Hizbullah’s stance is what’s governing Information Minister George Kordahi’s decision on whether to resign or not.”

Quoting ministerial sources, the daily said “efforts are underway to resolve the crisis between Lebanon and the Gulf countries and the solution is likely to be based on Kordahi’s resignation.”

At the same time, “there is no inclination for the government’s resignation until now, especially that the international community does not encourage such a step given its negative repercussions on the country,” the sources added.