Saudi ambassador to return to Beirut after assassination attempts

Commenting on recent reports that Lebanese authorities thwarted an assassination attempt on his life, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Asiri revealed he had also survived another undisclosed assassination attempt, prompting him to return to the Kingdom.
“Investigations are in the hands of Lebanese military intelligence at the moment, and we are required to maintain confidentiality,” he said, noting that he is in touch with Lebanese authorities regarding investigations.
Asiri said his presence in Riyadh currently has nothing to do with the incident and that he plans to return to Beirut to exercise his duties as usual while Lebanese authorities continue with their investigations.
The Al-Sharea magazine in Lebanon had reported on the attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador, leading to the arrest of a Palestinian and a Syrian.
Asiri confirmed that no embassy staff will be evacuated, and that attempts to harm the embassy and its staff will not discourage them from performing their mission of strengthening relations between the two countries.
“The host country is responsible for the protection of its guests,” he said, praising the efforts of military intelligence and emphasizing the responsibility of Saudi Embassy staff to respect laws of confidentiality.
Regarding whether the hostile attitude by Hezbollah toward the Kingdom may have had anything to do with the incident, Asiri said the attack “clearly targeted the relationship between the Kingdom and Lebanon, and such efforts will not be condoned.”
He said it is difficult to predict such incidents, as Lebanon has seen numerous assassination attempts against political, media and religious figures, but there is clear cooperation and effort by Lebanese authorities to protect the Saudi Embassy and its staff.