The Saudi newspaper, "Okaz", reported that the management of the "MBC" media group owned by the Saudi government is heading to permanently close its offices in Lebanon and transfer its equipment to Riyadh, following statements made by the Lebanese Minister of Information, George Kordahi, in which he defended the Houthis, while Yesterday, Wednesday, the Houthi government expressed its solidarity with Qardahi in the face of the torrent of criticism leveled against him for his statements.

And the Saudi newspaper reported on its website yesterday that the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the "MBC" group, Walid bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, denounced Qardahi's statements and accusations, which were described as malicious and targeted Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The chairman of the board of directors of the largest media company in the Middle East considered that the positions of the Lebanese Minister of Information are "very surprising and totally unacceptable, and they only express the biased and perverted political views of those who launched them."

On the other hand, an official source in the Council of Ministers of the Houthi government - which is not recognized internationally - stated that the latter is in full solidarity with the Lebanese Minister of Information, "in the face of the defamation campaign that he is being subjected to as a result of his Arabist, moral and honorable position."


The same source denounced what he described as the campaign against "a national and media personality, known for his professionalism and humanity, free of whims, interests and personal tendencies", in reference to Qardahi.

summoning ambassadors

Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain announced the recall of Lebanon's ambassadors to them;

In protest against the statements of the Lebanese Minister of Information regarding the Arab coalition led by Riyadh in Yemen.

The National News Agency in Lebanon stated that the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Lebanese authorities to clarify their position on Qardahi's statements, according to a statement issued by the Yemeni embassy in Beirut.

1_ We are surprised by the statements issued by the Lebanese Minister of Information, George Kordahi, which reflect a flagrant ignorance of the Yemeni issue, a blind bias to the Houthi terrorist militia, and a disregard for the role of the Iranian regime and its expansionist agenda in Yemen and the region, in managing the coup, exploding the war and undermining efforts to calm down, cease fire and establish peace.

— Muammar Al-Eryani (@ERYANIM) October 26, 2021

Qardahi made his statements during his hosting of the "Parliament of the People" program - a program broadcast on Al-Jazeera's electronic platforms - in which he described the war in Yemen as absurd, and said that it must stop, and described what the Houthis are doing in self-defense in the face of external aggression carried out by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Al-Hajraf, had called on Qardahi to apologize for statements in which he accused Saudi Arabia and the UAE of attacking Yemen, and said that they reflect a short understanding and a superficial reading of the events. But it finally aired.

Commenting on what these statements provoked, Kordahi said that no one should dictate to the Lebanese what to do about whether or not a minister remains in the government, adding that he is part of an integrated government, and he cannot take a decision to resign on his own.

Lebanese authorities

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said - in a statement - that the words issued by Qardahi do not reflect the position of the Lebanese government that adheres to brotherly ties with Arab countries.

For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that he discussed with President Michel Aoun Qardahi's statements before his appointment as a minister in the current government. Saudi Arabia, and condemn any interference in its internal affairs from any party or party.

It is noteworthy that the Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out military operations in Yemen since March 2015 in support of the legitimate forces, in the face of the Houthis who have controlled governorates, including the capital, Sanaa, since September 2014, after they seized power by force.