Following Saudi Arabia, Kuwait also expels Lebanese ambassador

George Kordahi, Lebanese Minister of Information. (Photo by The Guardian)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] On the 30th (local time), Kuwait expelled the Lebanese ambassador stationed in Kuwait, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours, in response to critical remarks made by Lebanese ministers about the Yemen civil war. Kuwait also recalled all its diplomats stationed in Lebanon.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced on the same day that it would withdraw all diplomatic personnel stationed in Lebanon. Additionally, it advised its citizens not to travel to Lebanon.

This move came after Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi criticized the Yemen civil war as an invasion by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a media interview.

In the interview, Minister Kordahi stated, "The Houthi rebels (self-proclaimed Ansar Allah) are fighting against external aggression," and claimed, "The homes and villages of the Yemeni people are being destroyed due to the Saudi-led coalition."

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply condemned Kordahi’s remarks, calling them "shameful and unacceptable."

As the controversy continued, Lebanese President Michel Aoun attempted to ease tensions on the 30th via Twitter, stating, "We want to maintain good relations with neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia."

Minister Kordahi explained that the controversial interview, which upset Saudi Arabia, was filmed in early August about a month before he took office, and that he expressed his personal opinion as a private individual, not as a cabinet member. However, the backlash from Gulf countries has not easily subsided.

Saudi Arabia, which leads the Arab coalition in the Yemen civil war, expelled the Lebanese ambassador stationed in Saudi Arabia the day before and imposed a complete ban on imports of Lebanese goods.

Bahrain, a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), also expelled the Lebanese ambassador stationed in its country. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain are all members of the GCC, which consists of six Arabian Peninsula countries.

The Arab coalition led by Sunni Muslim powerhouse Saudi Arabia has been involved in the Yemen civil war since 2015, fighting fiercely against the Houthi rebels, who receive support from Shia Iran.