An Arab League delegation will visit Beirut on Monday to address the ongoing rift between Lebanon and the Gulf states, prompted by a minister’s critical remarks about the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, an official source said.
The delegation will be led by Deputy Secretary General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki, the same source told Reuters.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on political forces to end their strife that is hampering efforts to pull the country out of chaos and resolve the diplomatic crisis with Riyadh, indirectly criticizing Hezbollah.
Iran’s ally and black sheep for Saudi Arabia, Hezbollah, a powerful armed movement, is the mastermind of the game in Lebanon. He has been blocking a cabinet meeting for three weeks, demanding the ouster of Judge Tarek Bitar, who had to suspend his investigation into the Beirut port bombing on August 4, 2020 (with more than 200 dead).
The dispute with the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a major rival of Shiite Iran, sparked by comments by Intelligence Minister George Kordahi criticizing Riyadh’s military intervention in the war in Yemen, has further weakened the Mikati government.
“We are determined to resolve the issue of relations with Saudi Arabia and the sister Gulf countries on a sound basis,” Mikati said in a speech.
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Lebanon last week and asked the Lebanese ambassador to leave the country. Three other Gulf monarchies – Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates – have also taken action against Beirut.
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