Saudi Arabia expels Lebanon’s ambassador amid controversy in Yemen

Saudi Arabia ordered the Lebanese ambassador to leave within 48 hours for “offensive” comments from a Lebanese minister.

The kingdom also imposed a general ban on all imports from Lebanon.

The move comes days after Lebanese information minister’s remarks on the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen sparked outrage in the kingdom.

The Lebanese prime minister said he regretted the Saudis’ decision and hoped they would reconsider.

Saudi Arabia said it is also recalling its Beirut envoy for “consultations”.

In an interview broadcast earlier this week but recorded in August, Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi appeared to call Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aggressors in the war in Yemen.

For seven years, a Saudi-led military coalition fought Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Kordahi, who spoke before he became a minister, called the conflict “useless” and said the Houthis were acting in “self-defense”.

Both Saudi Arabia and the rebels have faced international criticism for alleged atrocities in Yemen.

But the Lebanese government said Kordahi’s remarks do not reflect his position.

Relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have deteriorated in recent years. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, which also supports Houthi rebels in Yemen, has grown in strength in Lebanon.

Mr. Kordahi is a member of a Hezbollah allied political bloc.

Within hours of the Saudi announcement, neighboring Bahrain also expelled its Lebanese ambassador.

Lebanon is grappling with a deep economic crisis and internal political struggles.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he was “deeply sorry” about the Saudi decision and will work to repair relations.

“We will continue to work to resolve what needs to be resolved,” he said.

This is a punitive reprimand from Saudi Arabia. Turn a steaming line into a full blown crisis.

The latest trigger was the emergence of old comments from the Lebanese Minister of Information which seemed to label Saudi Arabia as an aggressor in the war in Yemen.

But the biggest source of Saudi anger is the growing dominance in Lebanon of Hezbollah, the heavily armed Shiite movement backed by Iran. Riyadh has always wanted the group’s grip to diminish.

The withdrawal of the ambassadors puts even more pressure on Lebanon.

Currently in the midst of such an economic and political crisis, many are wondering how many more blows it can suffer before a complete collapse.