Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir delivers a statement after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department in Washington, February 8, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry warned it citizens against travel to Lebanon and urged those present to leave for their own safety, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.
Saudi citizens who have to stay in Lebanon are advised to take caution while being there and “contact the Saudi embassy in Beirut to provide the necessary facilities and care for their safety”, SPA reported.
The kingdom has previously issued several warnings about security in Lebanon, but this statement comes at a sensitive time in the two countries’ diplomatic relationship.
Last week, Saudi Arabia said it was suspending a $3 billion arms deal with the Lebanese in response to Lebanon’s failure to condemn attacks by Iranian protesters on Saudi diplomatic missions in January.
In a similar step, the United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it was banning its citizens from traveling to Lebanon and reducing its diplomatic mission there, according to state news agency WAM.
“The Foreign and International Cooperation Ministry announced that it had raised its warning situation on traveling to Lebanon to banning travel there … (It) also decided to reduce the members of its diplomatic mission in Beirut to its furthest extent,” the ministry said in a statement said.