In a statement, the Lebanese Hezbollah condemned what it described as the "unjust" campaign led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council against Information Minister George Kordahi against the background of his positions on the Yemen war, while President Michel Aoun stressed that these statements do not reflect the viewpoint of the Lebanese state.
The party announced its rejection of any call to dismiss Qardahi or push him to resign, considering these calls a blatant attack on Lebanon, according to the statement.
For his part, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that "George Kordahi's statements regarding Gulf countries were made before his appointment as a minister in the state."
Aoun added - in a tweet on Twitter - that Qardahi's statements do not reflect the state's point of view, and that the positions of any Lebanese party should not be considered the positions of the Lebanese state, nor should they be treated on this basis.
Qardahi's statements before he took over the media portfolio in the Lebanese government surfaced on Tuesday, in which he says that the Yemeni Houthi group loyal to Iran is defending itself.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf countries summoned their ambassadors to Lebanon to protest against these statements.
And, in a desire to contain the crisis of Qardahi's statements, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said - in a statement on Wednesday - that his country "is keen on the best relations with Arab and Gulf countries."
Historically, distinguished relations prevailed between Riyadh and Beirut, but now they witness tensions from time to time, the most recent of which was last May, following statements by then Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wahba, in which he said that “the Gulf countries supported the rise of the terrorist organization ISIS (ISIS). in the region."
In a related context, Hezbollah condemned the Saudi authorities' decision to classify its financial institution as a terrorist entity.
The party said in a statement that this decision neither advances nor delays the work of the institution, which it said has devoted itself to serving the poor, the needy, people with limited income and the general Lebanese people.
The Saudi State Security Presidency had classified the "Al-Qard al-Hasan" Association as a terrorist entity, and said that it was linked to activities supporting the party and managing its funds, including supporting military purposes.
On March 2, 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council - which includes Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman - decided to consider Hezbollah and all its factions and organizations affiliated with and emanating from it as a "terrorist organization", following accusations that it repeatedly denies, including spreading chaos in the region.