According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia decided on Friday to recall its ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari, for discussions and asked the departure of the Lebanese envoy within 48 hours.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the following statement:

“Further to the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 27, 2021 AD, regarding the statements offensive to the Kingdom issued by the Lebanese Minister of Information, and whereas these statements represent a new cycle of reprehensible and rejected positions issued by Lebanese officials towards the Kingdom and its policies, as well as the slanderous statements and the reversal of facts and their falsification.

Whereas the current situation stems from Lebanon’s failure to take the measures demanded by the Kingdom to prevent the export of the scourge of drugs from Lebanon via Lebanese exports to the Kingdom, particularly given the terrorist Hezbollah’s control of all ports, as well as the failure to impose sanctions on those involved in crimes against the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the lack of cooperation in handing over wanted persons to the Kingdom in the past.

Whereas the Kingdom’s government regrets the outcome of relations with the Lebanese Republic as a result of the Lebanese authorities’ failure to acknowledge the facts and their continued failure to take corrective measures to ensure the continuation of the relations that the Kingdom has long cherished, based on the brotherly ties it shares with the dear Lebanese people. It is significant because Hezbollah’s terrorist control over Lebanese state decisions has turned Lebanon into a staging ground for the implementation of projects by countries that do not wish the best for Lebanon and its brotherly people, who have historical ties with the Kingdom of all sects and ethnicities since the Lebanese Republic’s independence, and as evidenced by Hezbollah’s provision of support and training.

Therefore, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hereby announces the summoning of the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Lebanese Republic for consultations and the departure of the Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the next (48) hours, and due to the importance of taking all necessary measures to protect the security of the Kingdom and its people, it was decided to stop all Lebanese imports, and the Kingdom’s government confirms what was previously issued regarding the ban on citizens traveling to Lebanon.

The Saudi government reaffirmed its concern for Lebanese citizens in the Kingdom, whom it considers to be a part of the history and bond that binds the Saudi people and their Arab brothers in the Kingdom, and said that what the Lebanese authorities have issued does not represent the views of the Lebanese community in the Kingdom, which is precious to the Saudi people.