Saudi, UAE, Bahrain Advise Their Citizens against Travel to Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
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.
23 February 2016, 17:57
53
As much as it's good a drug dealer is in prison, what about your side and the drug deals/gangs etc? How about your view on Samaha? You seem totally content that he was gonna commit acts of terror on behalf of Bashar and your Iranian brethren. Point is your group is no better, so stop acting like you're the innocent ones while in fact, your group is equally as guilty as them.
23 February 2016, 18:32
65
Al moussawi familly sells hallal captagon i guess southern, donnot blame the user, go see the dealler :)
Anyway banni saud and tbe gulf coutries are acting like this for the drugged prince held in here u say? so hezbollah batteling under iranian orders in syria/irak maybe yemen, bahren.... Had nothing to do with it?
:)
23 February 2016, 19:03
44
As for mousawi captagon issue it was all over the news man, u never read something like that? Enno i know it wont be on al manar probably but at least here on naharmet?....
23 February 2016, 17:39
65
Consequences, this is what happens when Lebanon has all of its economic eggs in one basket and all of its political, security and military eggs in another basket. Hezbollah and its toadies in the FPM cannot just go about following their agenda, trashing their opponents in Saudi Arabia when Saudi Arabia has such a large say in Lebanese economic and financial affairs.
How many Lebanese Expats live and work in the GCC and KSA sending remittances home to Lebanon. That's $8.0 billion in hard currency that comes to Lebanon from workers in those countries and Thibran Inbassil trashes them?
How much of the Lebanese debt instruments are held by KSA and the GCC and how much do they continue to purchase to prop up the Lebanese economy? Did Nasrallah think of that before his tirade?
23 February 2016, 17:42
65
Should Lebanon have Hezbollah at the head of State, making unilateral decisions of war and peace, internal security and foreign and diplomatic policy? Lebanon is supposed to be balanced, but here there is no balance.
Should Lebanon be so reliant upon the KSA for its financial and economic health? Of course not, but this is the product of the Lebanese political class having mortgaged Lebanon's public policy decisions to outside benefactors. When those outside benefactors are engaged in a regional competition and open hot warfare, the fate of Lebanon hangs in the balance when one side disregards or disrespects the other. The props are pulled out and the nation is now at risk.
23 February 2016, 17:44
66
Don't think that KSA will stop, not now, they see the impact its decisions are having and a change to change the balance of power in Lebanon from Lebanon being a Persian statelet to one that is more closely aligned to the Arab world and under KSA's wing. So, where does that leave the Lebanese Christians?? Fighting the Geagea - Aoun Wars as their house collapses around them and from under their feet.
23 February 2016, 17:51
12
Maybe this will teach all of them corrupt politicians a lesson now that the well is drying up.
23 February 2016, 18:34
42
Long leave the freedom fighters of secular modern and democratic gardians of the revolution...southern, u disearve a takbir for ur coment :)
23 February 2016, 18:37
61
Texas what an archaic mind u have man, u are sidding with wahabi fanatics man, what a shame..
Go cheer for hezbaollah, ansarallah, falay bader, aboufadel al abbas.. U know all those great openminded secular and progresost guys man, this is a real change
:)
23 February 2016, 20:03
45
Downfall of the House of Saud. Coming soon to a theater near you.
23 February 2016, 20:50
40
@anonym
Allow me please to make a correction:
The Iranian Mullahs have deposited about $84 Billion in personal accounts in Lebanese banks. This is the result of bribes obtained in Iran such as the issuance of passports to citizens. provide permits for various projects in Iran
SOURCE: US world and news report
Such deposits were made to avoid the embargo imposed then and grew tenfold during the financial crisis of 2008
23 February 2016, 21:05
50
@thirteen
I am afraid you're wrong as the shias will feel the least impact as they are subsidized by HA and Iran. In fact today as we speak they are the only ones with cash buying real estate from poor sunnis and christians
23 February 2016, 22:22
50
@anonym
for your info Lebanese banks deposits stand at $r80 Billion
23 February 2016, 22:28
41
If you call financial aid blackmail, I can entertain you. But Iran and Syria have blackmailed us using terror and death for decades.
23 February 2016, 22:33
41
I said the same thing regarding Iranians when Khomeini took over. Ordinary people fell victims to crazy Mullahs, HA trying to do same to Lebaneon
24 February 2016, 01:07
41
I wonder how all the hezzies will handle their own people once they get kicked out of the gulf en masse. Send them to Tehran where the economy is booming and the Lebanese have long been leaders in their fields?
24 February 2016, 01:19
40
Kayveman
don't have wild dreams, only real Lebanese can be up to the task
24 February 2016, 02:56
43
of course you are not mowaten; you are a new poster who just stumbled upon naharnet.
