Saudi, UAE, Bahrain Advise Their Citizens against Travel to Lebanon
Saudi Arabia advised its citizens Tuesday against travel to Lebanon and urged those already in the country to leave it, citing “safety” concerns, a few days after it halted military aid to Lebanon over Hizbullah stances and recent diplomatic positions.
“The Foreign Ministry calls on all citizens not to travel to Lebanon for their own safety,” the Saudi news agency SPA quoted a ministry official as saying.
“It also urges citizens residing in Lebanon or visiting it to leave and not to stay there unless for utmost urgency while observing vigilance and caution,” the official added.
The ministry also called on Saudis in Lebanon to contact the kingdom's embassy in Beirut for “the necessary help and attention.”
The United Arab Emirates swiftly followed suit, banning its citizens from traveling to Lebanon and reducing its diplomatic presence in Beirut.
In the evening, Bahrain also advised its nationals against "all travel to Lebanon" over safety concerns and called on Bahrainis already in the country to "leave immediately."
Saudi Arabia decided last week to halt a $4 billion grant to the Lebanese army and security forces and to review its diplomatic relations with Lebanon. The stance came after Lebanon's foreign ministry declined to vote in favor of Saudi-backed resolutions against Iran during two meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.
It also followed fierce anti-Saudi statements by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Announcing its decision on Friday, the kingdom deplored "political and media campaigns inspired by Hizbullah against Saudi Arabia," as well as what it called the group's "terrorist acts against Arab and Muslim nations."
In a statement, Hizbullah said Saudi Arabia stopped the military aid because of economic pressures from the war in Yemen, where it leads an Arab military coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels, and lower oil revenues.
The $3 billion deal funded military equipment provided by France and was to ship vehicles, helicopters, drones, artillery and other equipment to Lebanon.
Y.R.
M.T.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/202900 |