UAE Recalls Its Diplomats from Lebanon and Issues a Travel Ban

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Today, the UAE Minister of State, Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, said in a statement, that the UAE has decided to withdraw its diplomats from Lebanon and ban its citizens from traveling to the country.

UAE announces withdrawal of diplomats in Lebanon, in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.https://t.co/KfN0JDWBkD

— وزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي (@MoFAICUAE) October 30, 2021

According to the statement, the decision came in solidarity with the Kingdom in light of the unacceptable approach of some Lebanese officials towards Saudi Arabia.

KSA was the first to recall its Ambassador

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia summoned its Ambassador to Lebanon for consultations, asked the Lebanese Ambassador to leave the Kingdom within 48 hours, and decided to halt all Lebanese imports.

Following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait asked their Lebanese ambassadors to leave their lands within 48 hours as well. 

Statements by the Lebanese Minister of Information George Kordahi dating back to a few months in which he described the war on Yemen as “futile” resurfaced. In those statements, he also maintained that the Yemeni Ansar Allah Movement "has been defending itself in the face of external aggression against Yemen for years."

Lebanon's FM: the resignation of Minister Kordahi is a decision he alone makes

For his part, the Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, said in an interview for Al Mayadeen today, Saturday, that "the resignation of Minister Kordahi is a decision he alone makes."

In his turn, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed on Friday his regret for Saudi Arabia's decision regarding Lebanon, wishing it to reconsider and stressing that the Lebanese government would continue to work to address what must be addressed.