The UAE and Saudi Arabia summoned Lebanon's ambassadors to protest against Information Minister George Kordahi's claim that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were acting in self defence.
Mr Kordahi said during a television interview on Monday that the Houthis, who seized the Yemeni capital in 2014 and forced the internationally recognised government into exile, were "defending themselves ... against an external aggression".
A coalition of Arab nations intervened in the war in 2015 at the request of the Yemeni government.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it handed the Lebanese ambassador a memorandum protesting against Mr Kordahi's "offensive" remarks.
It said the statements were "clearly biased towards the terrorist Houthi militia that threatens the security and stability of the region".
The UAE also summoned Lebanon's ambassador to express its "condemnation and dismay" over the statements.
Mr Kordahi's "disgraceful and biased" comments "offended the member countries of the coalition", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said in a statement carried by the UAE's official Wam news agency.
Amid international efforts to reach a political settlement to the conflict, the Houthis attacked the government-held city of Marib in February. The rebels have pressed their offensive despite UN calls for de-escalation over fears for the civilian population, including hundreds of thousands of people already displaced by the war.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Mr Kordahi's statements "do not express the government's position at all", and reiterated his support for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The minister's comments place further strain on Lebanon's relations with traditional Gulf allies, which have deteriorated with the growing influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in the Lebanese government.
Mr Kordahi, a well-known television presenter, said he gave the interview on August 5 and the remarks were his "personal opinion".
"I did not wrong anyone. I did not attack anyone. Why should I apologise?" he told reporters in Beirut.
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
