Saudi Arabia and UAE Warn Citizens Against Traveling to Lebanon

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have warned their citizens about traveling to Lebanon and urged those present in the country to leave as soon as possible. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday, February 23, that the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel warning to its citizens regarding Lebanon. Saudi Arabia has previously warned its citizens about traveling to Lebanon several times, but the recent statement comes at a time when diplomatic relations between the two countries have become very sensitive. According to a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia 'urges all its citizens not to travel to Lebanon for their own safety. It also advises citizens residing or traveling to Lebanon to avoid staying in the country except for very essential matters and to exercise utmost caution.' Last week, Saudi Arabia halted its military aid to the Lebanese army and security forces. Riyadh had committed to providing $3 billion to the army and $1 billion to Lebanon's internal security organization. This action was taken in protest against Lebanon's foreign positions, including Beirut's failure to condemn the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran that occurred following the execution of Shiekh Nimr al-Nimr, a Shia cleric. Hours after Saudi Arabia, the UAE also banned its citizens from traveling to Lebanon and reduced the number of its diplomats in Beirut. According to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM), 'The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has raised the travel warning level for its citizens to Lebanon starting Tuesday.' The statement added, 'The Ministry has also decided to reduce the number of its diplomats in Lebanon to the lowest possible level.' Following the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, Riyadh severed its diplomatic relations with Tehran, a move that several Arab countries also undertook. The UAE also downgraded its diplomatic relations with Iran.