GCC Discusses Measures to 'Confront Hizbullah' as Salam Meets Gulf Envoys
The Gulf Cooperation Council on Wednesday discussed measures aimed at “confronting Hizbullah” as Prime Minister Tammam Salam held talks with the ambassadors of the Gulf states.
“The council of GCC foreign ministers discussed the measures that must be taken to confront Hizbullah,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced after a council meeting in Riyadh.
“We call for Lebanon's unity but what is disturbing in the Lebanon question is that a militia that is classified as terrorist controls decision-making in Lebanon," he said.
Jubeir also criticized a recent decision by Lebanon's Military Court to release on bail Syria-linked ex-minister Michel Samaha, who is facing charges of having planned "terrorist" acts and assassinations in collaboration with a top Syrian official.
Samaha's release "does not positively indicate that the army is independent of Hizbullah's influence," he said.
Asked about further Gulf sanctions against Hizbullah, Jubeir said the foreign ministers of the GCC had decided to look into measures that "would prevent Hizbullah from benefiting from GCC states."
Meanwhile, PM Salam met with the GCC ambassadors at the Grand Serail to discuss the latest measures that were taken against Lebanon.
“We are here at Salam's invitation and to listen to what he has to say,” Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri said upon his arrival at the meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the envoys after the meeting, Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdel-Al al-Qinai said: “Salam conveyed a clear message to us and we will carefully relay it to our countries.”
Wishing the Lebanese-Gulf ties “continuous improvement,” Qinai said the envoys sensed Salam's “keenness on the best ties with the Gulf countries.”
He also reassured that no measures will be taken against “the good Lebanese who do not have problems with the Gulf countries.”
The developments come amid an unprecedented strain in the relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia that Riyadh has attributed to “hostile” Lebanese diplomatic positions and alleged Hizbullah "terrorist acts against Arab and Muslim nations."
Saudi Arabia started a series of measures against Lebanon and Hizbullah on February 19 when it announced that it was halting around $4 billion in military aid to the Lebanese army and security forces.
The kingdom later slapped sanctions on individuals and firms accused of ties to Hizbullah and advised its citizens against travel to Lebanon while urging those already in the country to leave it. Around 90 Lebanese citizens have also been fired from their jobs in Saudi Arabia, according to media reports.
Saudi Arabia also pushed the GCC to label Hizbullah as a “terrorist” organization over purported "terrorist acts and incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq."
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah hit back on Sunday, noting that “Saudi Arabia is angry because its bets in Syria and Yemen have failed.”
Y.R.
9 years
Mystic, you keep asking if someone is going to do something like you are itching for a fight. If you are brave, put down your weapons and come down for a real fight in parliament. A civilized fight that preserves our country. But that is not what you want.
You are stronger of course. You have more weapons than a nation has and can control all of Lebanon in less than 24hrs. Go for it. Do it if you are brave. Make good on your "marjali" I prefer for you to take control of Lebanon for real than for us to keep covering you as a state.
9 years
mincanada, you should rather hold the leashes of your friends.
They are the ones itching for a fight, that you wisely know they can't win.
Therefore, turn away from the Saudi/Zionist schemes and tricks, stand by the Army if not the Resistance, as many March 14'ers already did now.
They choose the Army and the state of Lebanon, not the Saudi Kingdom, I'm happy to see fellow Lebanese Pro M14 supporters finally gets out of the blindless inflicted upon them by the Wahabi regime.
9 years
It is the Lebanese army that is in control of Lebanon 24 hours everyday, the Resistance only job is to protect the Lebanese borders and sovereignty from ISIS/Nusra(Saudis) and Israel.
9 years
Mystic, I have nothing to stand by anymore.
The army is weak and you like it that way.
The state is weak and you like it that way.
We have no president and you like it that way.
We have a Murshid al-Dawla Al Lubnaniyya and you like it that way
We have no friends anymore in the world who can help us and you like it that way
Our summers (the seasons when most of us make a living in Lebanon) are going to be dead again and you like it that way
You are fighting in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, and have weapons depots in at least 2 African state. The state is being blamed for what you are doing because you are a part of the state. But we are covering for you as the other part.
TAKE IT OVER. PLEASE. Stop this charade where you hide behind the "people". There is no more people or state. You have declared war on Saudi Arabia on your won and we are paying the price. Take the state over so we don't get blamed for your decisions.
9 years
Stop being so dramatic already, Lebanon have plently of friends.
The whole world is not just the GCC gulf countries, there are other opportunities out there.
The Army is still intact despite the halted "Saudi aid", and it is doing a great job at security.
There will be other ways to supply the Army when we are completely done with the Saudi influence, do not worry.
If you do worry, then it means it is because you wish for the Saudis deadly grip on Lebanon to remain.
9 years
miye bl miye
9 years
the status quo of who, what is the status quo exactly?
9 years
You should petition the Pope to send a Cristhian army to Lebanon through Turkey to protect the Cristhians of Lebanon. Build a few castles and even go on to capture Jerusalem for the Cristhian. It happened in 1099, maybe the Cristhians can do it again before 2099?
9 years
I am going to call you Richard Cour de Tric from now on.
9 years
I love how the Iranian implants act like they're all innocent, they've stirred up more garbage if not worse than the Saudi's. Point is, the're not perfect either and really should stop acting like hypocrites.
9 years
@mincanada
I want to congratulate you on every word you wrote. You said the truth and explained it intelligently with great logic and reasoning. The traitors - because this is what they are in their destruction of the country - CANNOT respond to your arguments.
Rest assured they cannot take the country by force, but instead they want to pursue its destruction until it becomes ruins:
Economical ruins
Cultural ruins
Coexistence ruins
Constitutional ruins
Institutional ruins...
Only enemy and traitors can do that...
9 years
@Tric Trac
When will you stop adding garbage?
Is it not enough what we already have???
9 years
We are as much Israelis as you are Zionist.
But to please you we are all going to become Zionists to make your dream come true.
9 years
u know what, we should all leave, dunno to a deserted island, and leave hizbulat and its people alone in Leb, maybe thats the most realistic solution, those of us who are really lebanese we move to an inhabited island, call it lebanon and let them do whatever they want with our homeland cuz let me tell you one thing, its like talking to a wall. sorry thats what we all have done, left lebanon and for a future somewhere else, sadly but truly.
9 years
Another possibility is for them to go. Allah yes3iddon w yeb3iddon.
9 years
It is sad that they have to telegraph to the Lebanese what to do.
Enough of Hezbollah. They are not tolerated nor wanted. Them and Iran should be out of Lebanon forever.
9 years
Filthy murdering militia
Yeah you going to do something now cutie?