KSA Expels Lebanese Ambassador, Halts Imports, GCC to Reportedly Follow Suit
Saudi Arabia on Friday ordered the Lebanese ambassador to the kingdom to leave the country within 48 hours and stopped all imports from Lebanon, a response to comments by a Lebanese minister who described the war in Yemen as a Saudi "aggression."
Saudi state media added that the kingdom's ambassador to Beirut was also asked to head back home.
The Saudi statement also noted that "Lebanon has not taken measures requested by the kingdom to halt the exportation of drugs from Lebanon through the Lebanese exports to the kingdom, especially amid the control of terrorist Hizbullah of all border posts."
"No penalties have been taken against those involved in those crimes that are targeted against the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to the noncooperation in handing over the fugitives to the kingdom, in contravention of the Riyadh judicial cooperation treaty," the statement added.
The statement meanwhile reassured that "the kingdom is keen on the Lebanese citizens who are residing in the kingdom," noting that "they are considered part of the fabric and unity that gather the Saudi people and its Arab brothers who live in the kingdom."
A source close to the Gulf Cooperation Council meanwhile told Lebanon's MTV that "all of Lebanon's ambassadors will be expelled from the GCC member states in the next few hours."
"There is an inclination to impose comprehensive political and economic sanctions on Lebanon in the next few days," a Gulf source told the TV network.
A Saudi source meanwhile told MTV that "the sharp diplomatic crisis will lead to Lebanon's isolation in the Arab world," warning that "we're still in the beginning" of the measures.
The developments come days after a video circulated on social media in which Lebanon's Information Minister George Kordahi described the war in Yemen as an aggression by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Kordahi made the comments on a TV program before he was chosen for the post in September. Kordahi is close to the Marada Movement, a close ally of Iran-backed Hizbullah.
Saudi Arabia lists Hizbullah as a terrorist organization. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have been tense in recent months over what the kingdom says Hizbullah's control of the small country.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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