Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Now it is the turn of Lebanese FM Bou Habib to offend Kingdom after Kordahi!

Now it is the turn of Lebanese FM Bou Habib to offend Kingdom after Kordahi!

Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi is not the only Lebanese political leader who voiced his grudge against Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies.
Kordahi’s offensive comments against the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen have triggered stringent actions from the part of the Kingdom and some other Gulf nations.

But reports showed that Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib made much more aggressive statements against the Kingdom and later he tried to hide and block them from being publicized by the media.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette has obtained from its own sources statements made by Bou Habib to a group of journalists against the backdrop of the recent diplomatic crisis with the Kingdom.

He tried to retract the statement, asking them to hide it and not publish it, after his advisors advised him to immediately retract it so as not to provoke more anger against the country.

The minister’s office sought to block the publication of the statements, and tried to beg the journalists present at the minister’s press meet not to publish them.

The recordings showed Bou Habib’s hatred against Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, and his harmony with the malicious propaganda unleashed by the leader of the Hezbollah militia and his supporters in Tehran.

It also manifested Bou Habib’s quest to demonize the Gulf countries as he began his speech with all impudence and abuse to belittle the Gulf countries as well as to infringe on their sovereignty.

He also made irresponsible accusations against the Kingdom, in a manner that reflects the orientations of his country’s political system according to the visions of the party under Iranian tutelage.

During the press meet, Bou Habib, who seemed irritated by the Gulf decision, tried to reduce the crisis triggered by Kordahi’s statements. He also referred to the statements of his predecessor Charbel Wehbe, justifying it by saying, “even when we hired Wehbe, Saudi Arabia did not appreciate” it.

“Today, if they sack Kordahi, what will we reap from the Kingdom? Nothing; they will ask for more things.”

Bou Habib also downplayed the importance of the Gulf financial support to Lebanon, saying that the important aid came from the European Union.

“As for Saudi aid, it is not for the state, but was given during the elections and to the relief agency after 2006, which we do not know where it was spent, but the state did not take anything from it.”

Emphasizing the statement of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan that the crisis is in Lebanon and not with Lebanon, Bou Habib indicated that even if the President and Prime Minister of Lebanon dismiss Kordahi, they will enter into an internal crisis with former Acting President Suleiman Frangieh.

Bou Habib criticized the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, for not calling him when the latest crisis erupted. The minister, who frequently repeated in his speech that Saudi Arabia did not appreciate what Beirut did, forgot about the billions of Saudi aid provided by Riyadh over the decades.

The minister’s speech seemed more naive as he justified drug smuggling and exporting it through his country to the Kingdom and that its drug market is the main motive behind smuggling, not the drug dealers in Beirut and its suburbs.

Bou Habib did not hesitate to stress that Hezbollah is a problem in Lebanon and for Lebanon, saying, “The Americans were pressing hard during the Trump era and in the presence of Secretary of State Pompeo, asking us to get rid of Hezbollah. But how can you get rid of it? I told them once: Send 100,000 Marines and save us.”

The minister also requested for initiating dialogue from Saudi Arabia, stressing that “the prime minister wishes for a call from Riyadh to fly quickly, regardless of his schedule, to the capital of the Arab decision.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
×