Saudi foreign minister warns Lebanon against becoming a 'starting point for terrorists'

BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah reaffirmed Saturday “the importance of implementing comprehensive structural, political and economic reforms" in Lebanon, again warning against the country against becoming "a starting point for terrorists, drug smuggling or other criminal activities that threaten the security and stability of the region.” The ministers remarks came during a speech delivered at the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Saudi Arabia regularly voices this kind of warning, as it criticizes the growing influence of Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, on Lebanese politics.  

Bin Farhan stated that Saudi Arabia urges Lebanon to implement the “provisions of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Taif Agreement.”

Lebanon must make reforms required by the International Monetary Fund and hold "timely elections" to choose a new president by a constitutional deadline, representatives from the United States, France and Saudi Arabia said in a joint statement issued Wednesday on the sidelines UN General Assembly. The constitutional deadline for Parliament to choose Lebanon's next president is Oct. 31, when the incumbent Michel Aoun's term ends.

A monthslong diplomatic crisis erupted between Saudi Arabia, alongside other Gulf monarchies, and Lebanon, in Oct. 2021 and persisted until April 2022. The crisis was triggered by the broadcast of statements by the Lebanese Information Minister at the time that criticized the Arab-led military coalition's intervention in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia consequently decided to "stop all Lebanese imports" and recalled its ambassador in Beirut. At the time, on Oct. 31, 2021, Bin Farhan acknowledged that "the problem" between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon "goes far beyond the simple comments of a minister" and denounced "the hegemony of Hezbollah over Lebanon."