Saudi Arabia urges citizens to avoid Lebanon amid spat with Iran
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 24 February 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Saudi Arabia urges citizens to avoid Lebanon amid spat with Iran, 24 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570cdf5ce.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 24, 2016
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain warned their citizens against visiting or staying in Lebanon amid a deepening dispute with Iran and its allies in the Mediterranean nation.
The two Gulf nations said their citizens are not safe in Lebanon because the Iranian-backed Hezbollah Shi'ite militia has armed militants there. The United Arab Emirates went a step further and said it was banning its nationals from visiting Lebanon.
The moves to evacuate citizens comes after Saudi Arabia suspended $3 billion in aid to Lebanese armed forces last weekbecause Beirut had not condemned the sacking of Saudi diplomatic facilities in Iran.
Saudi Arabia has sanctioned Hezbollah, which has been fighting in support of Syria's regime with Iran's backing in the five-year Syrian civil war.
Saudi Arabia supports rebels opposed to Syria's government. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week accused Turkey and Saudi Arabia of dragging the region into war, and said "victory" was imminent for his group and its Syrian ally.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
