DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� The island kingdom of Bahrain on Tuesday urged all its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately as a diplomatic crisis escalates between Gulf Arab states and cash-strapped Lebanon.
Bahrain鈥檚 foreign ministry ordered all Bahrainis to leave Lebanon 鈥渄ue to the tense situation there, which requires caution,鈥� days after the United Arab Emirates did the same. The ministry also warned its citizens not to travel to Lebanon 鈥減ermanently 鈥� in order to prevent exposure to any risks.鈥�
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait critical of the war in Yemen made by Lebanon鈥檚 game show host-turned-information minister. The internationally recognized government of Yemen followed suit on Tuesday, with its foreign ministry lambasting the comments as 鈥渞eprehensible" and a 鈥渄eviation from the Arab position in support of the just Yemeni cause.鈥� It said it would recall its ambassador for 鈥渃onsultations.鈥�
The comments by the minister, George Kordahi, ricocheted around the internet over the past week, infuriating the Gulf Arab region and triggering a series of punitive steps that further isolate Lebanon and threaten to split its new coalition government, now tasked with halting the country鈥檚 economic tailspin.
A Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign in Yemen in 2015, after Yemen's rebels swept into the capital, Sanaa, and has been battling the Iran-backed Shiite Houthis for control of the country since.
Along with pulling out their envoys, the four wealthy sheikhdoms expelled Lebanon鈥檚 ambassadors from their countries. Saudi Arabia also banned all Lebanese imports, a major blow to the tiny country in desperate need of foreign currency.
The Associated Press
