Lebanon: Al-Arabiya shuts Beirut office in move reflecting Saudi-Iran tensions
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 2 April 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Lebanon: Al-Arabiya shuts Beirut office in move reflecting Saudi-Iran tensions, 2 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5768ffd713.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| 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. |
April 02, 2016
The Saudi-owned news channel Al-Arabiya shut its offices in Beirut and dismissed 27 employees in a sudden move reflecting tensions between Riyadh and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
The channel on April 1 cited employee safety as the reason for closing its office and that of its sister channel Al-Hadath. Some other Saudi news outlets in Beirut have been hit with protests recently.
Al-Arabiya, one of the main Arabic language broadcasters in the Middle East, said it will "continue to closely cover Lebanese affairs" and will help laid-off employees find jobs elsewhere.
The move reflects ongoing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran's allies. Last month, Riyadh cut $3 billion in military aid to Lebanon after the Lebanese government failed to condemn an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January.
The Sunni Gulf monarchy interpreted Lebanon's lack of public solidarity as a sign that it had become beholden to Hezbollah.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
