DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Saturday the latest crisis with Lebanon has its origins in a Lebanese political setup that reinforces the dominance of the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group and continues to allow endemic instability.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries expelled Lebanese envoys in a diplomatic spat that risks adding to Lebanon's economic crisis, following critical comments about the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen by Lebanon's Information Minister George Kordahi.
"I think the issue is far broader than the current situation," Prince Faisal bin Farhan told Reuters in a phone interview. "I think it's important that the government in Lebanon or the Lebanese establishment forges a path forward that frees Lebanon from the current political construct, which reinforces the dominance of Hezbollah."
He said this setup "is weakening state institutions within Lebanon, in a way that makes Lebanon continue to process in a direction against the interests of the people of Lebanon."
The row has triggered calls by some Lebanese politicians for the resignation of Kordahi, while others opposed such a move, which could undermine the government as a whole.
"We have no opinion about the government in Lebanon. We have no opinion as to whether it stays or goes, this is up to the Lebanese people," the minister, speaking from Rome where he was attending the G20 summit, said.
Kordahi has been publicly backed by Hezbollah and has declined to apologise or resign over the comments.
Saudi foreign minister says crisis with Lebanon has its origins in Hezbollah dominance
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Saudi foreign minister says crisis with Lebanon has its origins in Hezbollah dominance
- We have no opinion as to whether the government in Lebanon stays or goes, this is up to the Lebanese people: Prince Faisal
- Kordahi has been publicly backed by Hezbollah and has declined to apologise or resign over the comments
Archaeologists discover Abbasid coin in Al-Ahsa
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission has concluded its second archaeological season at Ra’s Qurayyah Port in Al-Ahsa governorate, Eastern Province, uncovering 147 diverse architectural units, including large courtyards and ancient wells.
Located 26 km northwest of Al-Uqair Port, the site yielded significant artifacts, including an Abbasid dirham minted in 765 AD, bronze ornaments and glazed pottery, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Comparative analysis and organic sampling indicate the site’s timeline spans from the pre-Islamic era through the early Islamic period and into the late-10th century.
The discovery aligns with the national cultural strategy to document the Kingdom’s tangible heritage and strengthen its scientific and historical presence globally.
