Saudi Arabia Warns Nationals against Traveling to Lebanon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Saudi foreign ministry issued on Monday a travel restriction advisory to Lebanon, the official SPA news agency said.
“Due to the unstable security situation in Lebanon, the foreign ministry warns its citizens against traveling to Lebanon to maintain their safety, until further notice,” an unidentified high-ranking official in the ministry told the news agency.
Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri told the National News Agency that the travel warning to Lebanon is due to the recent security incidents including the burning of tires and blocking of roads.
“The kingdom is keen on not jeopardizing the safety of its citizens,” Asiri told the news agency.
He urged the political forces in Lebanon to exert efforts to preserve stability and security in the country.
Asked how the Saudi authorities’ decision would affect the Lebanese tourism season, Asiri said that “the intention behind this decision isn’t to harm Lebanon, but the safety of the Saudis is a priority for the Saudi leadership.”
The warning coincides with the tourist season in Lebanon, a major summer destination for nationals from the oil-rich Gulf region.
Lebanon has recently witnessed a series of incidents across the country and along the Lebanese-Syrian border.
In May, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait advised their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and urged their nationals currently present in the country to leave due to the unstable security situation.
02 July 2012, 14:00
00
they probably sent an extra zillion USD to their salafist thugs in lebanon recently, to buy tires and block roads.
02 July 2012, 14:48
43
KSA seems to care about their citizens. I wonder if Lebanon did the same by warning us not to travelling to Syria... which should logically be avoided.
02 July 2012, 17:28
22
If you think KSA really respect its citizens, think again.
Protests in al Quteif region and their surroundings were being faced by fierce ant-protest police and army.
Unless you're addicted to Future news alot.
03 July 2012, 05:51
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benzona your cute. saudis respect their citizens. tell that to the women who are publicly flogged for daring to drive...Tell that to the saudi protesters? They were meet with this respectful gem from prince saud al faisal "Reform cannot be achieved through protests ... The best way to achieve demands is through national dialogue," or the interior ministry statement, "The Interior Ministry on Monday reiterated that demonstrations are banned in the kingdom on grounds that they contradict Islamic laws and values and said in a statement that its security forces will act against anyone taking part in them" (washington post).
Such respect and care.
02 July 2012, 15:30
05
Not that I'm a fan of the Saudis, but it seems that the only tourists we're getting this summer are the syrian refugees... :(
02 July 2012, 15:47
00
And Iranians.... Everybody is welcome to lebanon! but it seems like we're gonna have a terrorist season instead or a tourist season. Better stock up on old used tires.
02 July 2012, 15:31
23
our government is too busy trying to steal more money from us to issue any travel advisory to warn us :)
the Saudis respect their citizens contrary to our government, and I wonder here about those criticising KSA....
anyway, there is something big that will hapen extremely soon, thus this travel warning, and please do not forget the previous one where they asked their citizens already here in Lebanon to leave before the end of the month.
to all the sceptics: war is coming hard, and hizbushaitan days are numbered.
02 July 2012, 17:00
10
Geha, you're a class-A political analyst, perhaps you were a classmate of mine or a guru I never knew. This is just Guld blackmail to pressure Lebanon into supporting the regime-change in Lebanon and thus, and as usual, against the policy of neutrality. I don't care which side it comes from (Iran or Saudi, East or West) all these foreign countries are playing tug of war and we're paying the price. Geha, you're no different than Hezballah, two sides of the same coin. Where are the LEBANESE who work for LEBANON and not Saudi and Iran?
02 July 2012, 15:55
01
Their loss, they'll miss our world famous Dahieh Burning Tires festival, the biggest burnibg tires festival in the world this year featuring our own FlamingTit and his fabulously flaming brothers.
02 July 2012, 17:05
00
Is this true--it was mentioned so many times previously, only to be denied later on by Saudi Officials??
PLS Nahar check your sources before jumping to conclusion??
many thanks
02 July 2012, 20:43
02
i am sure if iran had tourists in lebanon they would be advised to stay away, but iranians don't come to lebanon as tourists they only come over to oversee their terrorist militia here, to relay orders from khamenei to the apartheid islamic sectarian revolution in lebanon and to make sure that hassan's beard is watered.
03 July 2012, 04:46
21
Oh well, less terrorism - ooops, I mean tourism. Half the Saudi "tourists" are probably Al Qaida members anyways, overall, good news in my opinion.
03 July 2012, 14:15
00
the pb with lebanon is that they based their "tourism" on luxury. they want to attract only those who have money thus the tourists from the gulf, like it or not. they have abandoned every thing cultural to attract tourists that s why they are dreaming of making beirut like a giant mall for the gulf people! all cultural sites are left aside or for some abandoned. little is done for the middle class tourists from europe for example.
so if people from the gulf don t come this summer it will seriously affect the economy. but what to expect from a third world country such as lebanon kept as such by tribal and sectarian behaviors?...
