Saudi Arabia has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible”, sparking fears of war. The Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation while visiting Saudi Arabia but confusion surrounds his status in the kingdom, with some claiming he is being held under house arrest. In a televised statement, Mr Hariri blamed his resignation on Iran, Saudi Arabia’s fiercest rival, who he claimed was putting lives at state with its “grip” on Lebanon. Due to the uncertain situation in Lebanon, Riyadh has called on the Saudi population there to leave.
An unnamed foreign ministry source issued the warning in Saudi Arabia’s state-run news agency SPA. He said: “Due to the situation in the Republic of Lebanon, the kingdom asks its nationals visiting or living in Lebanon to leave as soon as possible, and advises its citizens not to travel there.” Kuwait has also ordered its citizens to leave the country. Bahrain, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, has also urged its citizens not to visit Lebanon. READ MORE
