Lebanon’s information minister has resigned after his criticism of the Saudi war in Yemen led to a crisis between the two countries. The Minister said that he put the good of the state before his personal good
Lebanese Information Minister George Qaradahi resigned over the weekend following the diplomatic crisis that erupted with Saudi Arabia over criticism he leveled at her over her war against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Lebanese minister said he put the country before the personal interest.
Saudi Arabia has expelled the Lebanese ambassador, returned the ambassador from Beirut and banned the import of products from the cedar state after the words of Karadhi, a former TV presenter, against the fight against Iranian terrorism that is taking place in Yemen. Its neighbors, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, have taken similar steps. Riyadh said his comments were a symptom of the bigger problem – a Hezbollah-backed Iranian grip on Lebanon.
In Lebanon, it is hoped that the forthcoming visit of French President Emanuel Macron to Riyadh, where the acute crisis between the two countries will be discussed, will lead to an end to the tensions. The Islamic struggle between the Sunnis and the Shiites is now draining into the battered country, which is carrying financial aid in the wake of the economic crisis.