Asiri: Saudi Embassy in Beirut Has Not Received Any Threats
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri thanked Lebanese officials who voiced their commitment to ensuring the safety of his country's embassy in Beirut in light of the kingdom's advisory to its citizens to leave Lebanon, reported the Saudi newspaper Okaz on Saturday.
He told the daily: “The embassy has not received any threats and Lebanon is a fraternal state.”
“Ensuring the security of diplomats is the duty of the host state,” he continued.
“The Lebanese government is hosting them and it is responsible for their safety and security,” stressed Asiri.
Addressing the accusations of terrorism against the kingdom made by some officials, he said: “Such remarks do not represent the Lebanese people's known positions towards Saudi Arabia.”
On Thursday, the Saudi embassy in Beirut called on citizens to leave Lebanon because of the dangerous situation after some media linked the kingdom to deadly blasts.
Twin bombings targeted on Tuesday the Iranian embassy in Beirut, leaving 25 people dead and nearly 150 wounded.
The attack outside the embassy was followed by a stinging campaign in some pro-Hizbullah media outlets against Saudi Arabia, accusing the Gulf monarchy of being behind the blasts.
An al-Qaida-affiliated group, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is aimed at pressuring Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria.
Saudi Arabia backs the Syrian rebels, while Iran and its ally Hizbullah support the Syrian regime.
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