Saudi Arabia on Thursday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon "as soon as possible" amid heightened tensions with Iran and the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite group Hizbollah.
Saudis have also been advised against travelling to Lebanon, a source at the foreign ministry told the official Saudi Press Agency.
"Due to the circumstances in the Lebanese Republic, the kingdom asks its citizens who are visiting or residing there to leave as soon as possible," the source said.
The warning comes days after Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation in a televised address from Saudi Arabia, accusing Iran and Hizbollah of stirring trouble in Arab states and saying he feared assassination. He has remained in Saudi Arabia since then apart from a short visit to the UAE.
His resignation followed growing Saudi criticism of Iran and Hizbollah, which Riyadh accuses of hijacking Lebanon's political system.
The shock move triggered accusations in Lebanon that Mr Hariri had been pressured to resign by Saudi Arabia and was being kept there against his will, charges that Riyadh has denied.
The Future Movement party led by Mr Hariri has also denied he was under house arrest, but on Thursday joined calls for him to come back to Lebanon.
A statement issued after a party meeting said Mr Hariri's return was "necessary to recover respect for Lebanon's internal and external balance, and in the framework of full respect for Lebanese legitimacy".
Mr Hariri, who holds Saudi citizenship, had an audience with King Salman in Riyadh on Monday before travelling the next day to the UAE, where he had a meeting Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He has also met the head of the EU mission to Saudi Arabia, the British and French ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, and the US charge d'affaires this week.
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Read more:
With Hariri gone, Hizbollah is leading Lebanon down a dangerous path
US and EU say relationship with Lebanon 'will not change' after Hariri's resignation
Saad Hariri’s resignation was a shock, but what will happen next?
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
