Saudi & UAE Ban Citizens From Travelling To Lebanon
KABUL: (MEP) Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have called on their nationals in Lebanon to leave the country or avoid travelling there amid deteriorating political ties between Riyadh and Beirut.
“All citizens not to travel to Lebanon, for their safety, and asking citizens residing in Lebanon or visiting not to stay unless extremely necessary”. The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia suspended a $3-billion package to the Lebanese army and a remainder of $1 billion in aid to its internal security forces on Friday.
The move came after Riyadh halted $4bn in aid to Lebanese security forces in response to “hostile” positions linked to the stranglehold of Hezbollah on the State.
Reacting to the halt in Saudi aid to the Lebanese military, Hezbollah said in a statement that the decision by the Saudi regime to suspend its aid to the Lebanese army exposes the real face of Saudi Arabia and refutes its claims about fighting terrorism. Hezbollah said Riyadh’s decision is merely a political maneuver.
Meanwhile, Bahrain also urged citizens against travelling to Lebanon, and called on Bahrainis there already to leave quickly, according to a statement posted to state news.
