Lebanon condemns Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia

By Waseem Saifeddin

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - The Lebanese Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned a failed attempt by the Yemeni Houthi group to target Saudi Arabia with two booby-trapped drones.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of any assault that harms its sovereignty, security, and stability, and is in violation of the international laws and conventions.

On Tuesday, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden Houthi drones fired toward Saudi territories.

The statement comes amid a diplomatic row between Beirut and Riyadh over comments by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi on the war in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Yemen recalled their ambassadors from Lebanon in protest of Kordahi's critical comments of the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen in a televised interview.

Asked if he "thinks that the Houthis, like Hezbollah, are defending their land as an armed organization," Kordahi responded: "Of course they are defending themselves ... My personal opinion is that this war in Yemen needs to end. Houses, buildings, villages, and cities are being attacked by fighter jets."

Kordahi stated last week that he has no intention to apologize for his comments or to resign from his post, but confirmed he is committed to the Lebanese government's program and policies.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation and caused one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara