A Saudi government official said that despite the decision, the country will continue to stand with Lebanese nationals as such stances do not represent them.
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“We express our deep appreciation for King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his brothers in the Saudi leadership… and we hope for a reconsideration of the decision to halt the aid for our army and security forces”, he said in a statement. The first shipment of French weapons and military equipment had already been delivered to Lebanon in April previous year under the Saudi-funded deal to bolster the Lebanese army’s fight against Islamist militants encroaching from neighboring Syria. The government in Riyadh has also chose to block a further $1 billion in aid, which is the remainder of a programme in support of Lebanon’s internal security services.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to conduct the review was taken in light of Lebanon’s recent foreign policy positions, including its failure to condemn Iran’s attack on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran, according to the UAE’s state news agency WAM.
That was “regrettable and unjustified”, and “inconsistent with the fraternal relations between the two countries”, the Saudis said.
The release on bail of ex-information minister Michel Samaha last month after serving eight months of a 4 1/2 year jail sentence for smuggling explosives from neighbouring Syria and planning attacks drew anger and condemnation from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s opponents in Lebanon.
The ongoing conflict between Riyadh and Tehran reflects an ancient rift between Islamic factions, with Iran dominated by the Shiite and Saudi Arabia by Sunni Muslims.
Oil prices had risen by more than 14 percent earlier in the week on Saudi Arabia and Russia’s agreement to freeze output at January levels.
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He blamed the organisation for political and media campaigns and terrorist acts against his and other Arab countries. He called on the Lebanese Cabinet to meet over the issue. The Saudi pledge by the late King Abdullah, announced in December 2013, was described at the time as the largest-ever single grant to the Lebanese armed forces. Reuters data showed the daily volume in USA crude futures at just over 200 million barrels, down 75 per cent from two weeks ago. This week, ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded the kingdom’s credit rating due to low oil prices.
