Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel (L) speaks during a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Beirut airport air base during a ceremony to give weapons to the Lebanese army as part of a Saudi-funded deal worth $3 billion, April 20, 2015. (photo by REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)
Al Monitor: What is Riyadh's endgame in Lebanon?
Saudi Arabia is playing a high-stakes game in Lebanon, seeking to punish and weaken Hezbollah and Iran. It's not clear if the Saudis have an achievable end goal in mind.
Lebanon did not join an Arab League consensus in condemning Iran for the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in early January. In response, Riyadh suspended indefinitely a $3 billion program to purchase French weapons for the Lebanese military and canceled a $1 billion project to assist the Lebanese internal security service. Then it announced a travel warning discouraging tourists and others from visiting Lebanon. Several Hezbollah-connected companies have been blacklisted by Riyadh.
The Saudis’ Gulf allies quickly followed suit and issued travel bans. Saudi and Emirati banks are said to be leaving Beirut. Next, the kingdom and its allies may start sending Lebanese expatriate workers home — something that would be a major hit to Lebanon's economy given that half a million Lebanese citizens work in the Gulf.
Read more ....
Update: Saudi Arabia’s Lebanese Gambit (Brent Nagtegaa, The Trumpet)
WNU Editor: This is going to hurt .... French arms intended for Lebanon to be diverted to Saudi Arabia (Al Bawaba). Shutting down banking institutions and expelling Lebanese nationals doubly so.