Saudi envoy to Lebanon assumes post after hiatus

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar (AA) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Wednesday received the diplomatic credentials of Saudi Arabia’s recently-appointed Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Yaacoub.

On its official Twitter account, the Saudi Foreign Ministry shared a photo of al-Yaacoub providing the Lebanese president with his credentials in Beirut.

The new ambassador arrived in the Lebanese capital on Nov. 20, two weeks after his official assignment to the post -- which had remained vacant since last year -- by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Saudi-Lebanese relations have been tense since early November, when Lebanese Prime Minister Saaid Hariri abruptly announced his resignation from Saudi Arabia.

Some two weeks later, Hariri -- long considered an ally of Saudi Arabia -- revoked his resignation after returning to Lebanon.

Hassan Nasrallah, head of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah group, meanwhile, remains an outspoken critic of Saudi regional policy, especially as it pertains to Syria, Yemen and Iran.