A report released by Amnesty International on Friday called the ongoing trade with Saudi Arabia “truly sickening”, and urged governments to attend meetings in Geneva on Monday to discuss the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). We spend a lot of time trying to work out who is best placed to win these export orders.
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Lebanese MP members Antoin Zahra and Ahmed Fatfat, blamed Hezbollah for the crisis Lebanon is facing, emphasizing on the importance of Lebanese-Saudi relations, and its normalcy with the Gulf states, which is now threatened by Hezbollah.
Kuwait has become the latest Arab Gulf country – following Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain – to call its citizens to leave Lebanon or avoid travelling there.
The spat is inflaming tensions in Lebanon between the pro-Saudi and pro-Hezbollah camp in Lebanon.
“Saudi Arabia (is) feeling for a good reason that its influence in Lebanon is on the decline”, said Ayham Kamel, a Middle East expert with the political risk and consulting firm, Eurasia Group.
Thomson ReutersLebanon’s Hezbollah deputy Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in Beirut’s suburbs, February 28, 2012.
Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran after demonstrators burned its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
Saudi Arabia is demanding an apology from the government.
One demand would be for the Future Movement to end its ongoing dialogue with Hezbollah, and another could be for the anti-Hezbollah moderate Sunni block led by former prime minister Saad Hariri to leave the government.
Mr Sarhan purchased unmanned aerial vehicles, while Mr Sheri facilitated Hizbollah’s efforts to obtain electronics “for transport to Yemen for use in improvised explosive devices” by the country’s Houthi rebels, the treasury department said. The kingdom supports rebels fighting to remove him.
“By irresponsible statements, (we are) endangering Lebanese overseas”, the Progressive Socialist Party chief said on Twitter.
“I imagine that was part of the reasoning”, Prince Turki said in Abu Dhabi.
The official Saudi Press Agency had described the “Northern Thunder” drill – which will involve army, navy and air forces – as “the most important and the biggest in the history of the region”. “I have not been informed officially, of any measure – coming or happening – concerning the financial sector”, Salameh said. The pound is pegged near 1,507.5 to the US dollar.
Saudi Arabia also sanctioned Vatech Sarl, Le-Hua Electronic Field, Aero Skyone and Labico Sal Offshore.
Hezbollah fighters, with Iran’s support, are also backing the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
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Although both Iran and Hezbollah have given vocal support to the Houthis, dismissed Hadi’s government as illegitimate and condemned Saudi involvement in the civil war, they deny giving the group military aid.
