Bahrain says it has deported a number of Lebanese citizens living in the tiny island kingdom over their alleged ties to the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
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Lebanese press reported last week that up to 10 families had been ordered to leave Bahrain.
Last week, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council has designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, ratcheting up pressure on the Iran-allied group that wields influence in Lebanon and plays a key role in the Syrian crisis.
Explaining Lebanon’s reservations, Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil said “Hezbollah is a Lebanese party that enjoys broad representation in the parliament and Cabinet…”
Gulf monarchies earlier this month declared Lebanon’s Hezbollah a “terrorist” group, in the latest regional move against the Shiite organization fighting in support of Syria’s regime.
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia said it would punish anyone backed by, sympathetic to or supporting of Hezbollah.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia warned that any of its citizens or residents found to support Hezbollah would face harsh penalties.
The terror group which threatened to attack Lebanon also described Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Salam and Interior Minister al-Mashnouq as “the dictators of the Lebanese statelet”.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has stepped up criticism of Saudi Arabia, accusing it of directing auto bombings in Lebanon.
On Friday, the Arab League labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization, as tensions rise between Sunni and Shi’ite powers across the Middle East.
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At that time, GCC’s Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani said the move was linked to Hezbollah’s attempts to recruit young people in GCC countries to carry out terrorist acts, smuggle weapons and explosives, and incite disorder and violence.
