Saudi Says it will Take Arms Bound for Lebanon
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Saturday the kingdom will keep French military supplies previously intended for Lebanon under a $3 billion aid program, as Riyadh toughens its stance against Hizbullah.
Last month the oil-rich Gulf state halted the program in protest against Hizbullah, which Saudi bitterly opposes.
"We didn't stop the contract. It's just going to Saudi Arabia, not to Hizbullah," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a news conference in Paris.
"We have a situation where Lebanon's decisions have been hijacked by Hizbullah. The contracts will be completed but the clients will be the Saudi military."
On Wednesday the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council declared Hizbullah a "terrorist" group in the latest step against the party as ties between its main backer Iran and regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia deteriorate.
Gulf monarchies had already sanctioned Hizbullah in 2013 in reprisal for its armed intervention in Syria.
Last week Riyadh upped measures against the group, freezing assets and prohibiting dealings with three Lebanese nationals and four companies.
Source: Agence France Presse
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