Saudi Arabia expressed its "total support for the measures taken by Lebanon to counter attempts to undermine the security of Lebanese citizens and to deal firmly with the attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)," according to a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Sunday by the Saudi Press Agency SPA and relayed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

Riyadh reiterated its "support and [its] confidence in the measures taken by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in this regard, as well as in the national tasks accomplished by the Lebanese army that contribute to security and stability."

The Saudi statement comes as Lebanon has witnessed several demonstrations and incidents following the authorities' decision to ban Iranian civil planes from landing at Beirut airport, after Israeli threats. Hezbollah supporters attacked a UNIFIL convoy in Beirut on Friday, injuring officers. During another protest on Saturday, tensions erupted between militants and the Lebanese army. Hezbollah mentioned on Sunday an attempt to "pit the army against the people." At least one political party, Kataeb, accused it of trying to renege on the commitments made in the cease-fire agreement with Israel that came into effect on Nov. 27, and condemned the protests.