No point in engagement with Lebanon, says Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia sees no point in engaging with Lebanon’s government until its politicians confront the malign influence of Hezbollah and Iran, the Kingdom’s foreign minister has said.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s remarks have dashed hopes in Beirut of a solution to the deepening diplomatic rift with Riyadh, as Lebanon struggles with political paralysis and a collapsing economy.
“We see no useful purpose in engaging with the Lebanese government at this point in time,” Prince Faisal told France 24 television in an interview.
“We think that the political class needs to step up and take the necessary actions to liberate Lebanon from the domination of Hezbollah, and through Hezbollah, Iran.”
Lebanon is facing its worst diplomatic crisis yet with Gulf states, spurred by a minister’s critical comments about the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen that prompted Riyadh to expel Lebanon’s ambassador, recall its own envoy and ban all imports from Lebanon.
The Kingdom was angered by an interview in which Lebanon’s newly appointed Information Minister George Kordahi, a former TV game show host, sided with the Houthi militia and said Yemen was being subjected to external aggression.
Kordahi said the interview was recorded before he became a minister and has refused to apologize or step down, despite pressure from Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Riyadh has said its actions were driven not just by Kordahi’s comments, but also its objection to Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese politics.