“Let everyone be warned: Lebanon draws its Arab legitimacy from its distinguished and deep links with its brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states,” Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi tweeted. It can’t be kept separate from its surroundings, and it’ll never be used to attack another brotherly country.” No one has the power to change our Arab identity. Let us begin implementing serious reform measures right away.”

This comes after Saudi Arabia summoned its Ambassador to Lebanon in protest of the Minister of Information, George Kordahi’s statements in which he defended the Houthis.

Riyadh and Manama have also requested that the Lebanese Ambassador depart within the next 48 hours, while Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged Kordahi to respect the national interest.

In an episode of the “Barlaman sha’ab” show broadcast last Monday, Kordahi branded the conflict in Yemen as ludicrous, stating that it must end and that what the Houthis are doing is nothing but self-defense.