Sources: UK Officials Express Surprise in Talks with Mashnouq on Saudi Aid Cut
British officials have regretted during a meeting with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq a decision by Saudi Arabia to freeze billions of dollars of aid to the Lebanese army and security forces, sources said on Tuesday.
Mashnouq's sources told An Nahar newspaper that the minister has met with several officials on the first day of his official visit to London.
He stressed the importance of assisting Lebanon and exerting efforts along with regional powers to press for the swift election of a new president, they said.
The British officials told Mashnouq that they “did not understand” why Riyadh decided to freeze the aid at a time when Lebanon's friends should consolidate the role of its military and security institutions, the sources added.
Saudi Arabia has halted $4 billion in arms deals with Lebanon after accusing the country of siding with Iran.
It has spearheaded efforts by the Gulf Cooperation Council to declare Hizbullah, which is backed by Tehran, a terrorist organization.
The Arab League followed suit by branding Hizbullah a terrorist group earlier this month.
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