Information Minister George Kordahi on Sunday stressed that he will not resign despite the growing diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.

In remarks to al-Jadeed television, Kordahi emphasized that such a move is "out of the question."

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday noted that “the crisis with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular and the Arab Gulf nations in general has multiple and accumulating reasons.”

Financially crippled Lebanon finds itself in a new tug-of-war between regional kingpins Saudi Arabia and Iran after Riyadh and other wealthy Gulf states expelled the Lebanese envoy, analysts say.

The crisis erupted Friday when Saudi Arabia gave Lebanon's ambassador 48 hours to leave the country, recalled its envoy from Beirut and suspended all imports from Lebanon.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has blamed his country’s row with Lebanon on Hizbullah and Iran's "dominance" over Lebanese politics.

"There is no crisis with Lebanon but a crisis in Lebanon because of Iranian dominance," he told Al-Arabiya television, adding: "Hizbullah's dominance of the political system in Lebanon worries us." 

Embattled Information Minister George Kordahi on Saturday visited Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki and left without making a statement, amid a diplomatic storm sparked by his remarks on Yemen’s war.

An Israeli missile strike killed five pro-Iran militiamen near Damascus on Saturday, a war monitor said, while state media said two Syrian soldiers were wounded in the attack.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strike "destroyed a Hizbullah and Iranian weapons and ammunition" convoy heading towards Lebanon.

The United Arab Emirates said Saturday that it would withdraw its diplomats from Lebanon in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

It also said Emiratis would be "prevented" from traveling to Lebanon. Travel bans have happened previously to Lebanon over politics in the past.

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh on Saturday defended Information Minister Georges Kordahi after KSA, Kuwait and Bahrain expelled the Lebanese ambassadors in protest at his remarks over the Yemen war.

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit on Saturday expressed concerns about the deterioration in ties between Lebanon and several Gulf countries over statements made by Information Minister George Kordahi.

Abul Gheit said the crisis caused by Kordahi's comments has led to a "great setback" to Lebanon's relationship with the Gulf countries.

Kuwait has recalled its ambassador from Beirut and has given the Lebanese envoy 48 hours to leave the emirate, the Kuwaiti foreign ministry said Saturday, quoted by state news agency KUNA.