Lebanon affirms its determination to normalize relations with Gulf countries

A statement by the Lebanese Council of Ministers on March 21 said that the Lebanese government would “take all necessary measures” to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries, emphasizing “the need to suspend all political, military, security and media activities from the territory of Lebanon that affect the sovereignty and security” of the aforementioned countries.

Last year, relations between Lebanon and the Gulf countries became strained due to drug smuggling from the country. In addition, Gulf countries are also dissatisfied with the political influence of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim movement in Lebanon that supports the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has intervened in Yemen since 2015 to support the government of this country against the Houthi forces.