Lebanon's Hezbollah movement is a threat to Arab security, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Beirut said on Thursday, in the kingdom's first response to a verbal attack by the leader of the Iran-backed group.
Ambassador Waleed Bukhari called on Lebanese politicians to prioritise their country's interests and put an end to Hezbollah's “terrorist hegemony".
“Riyadh hopes that the political parties will give priority to the supreme interest of Lebanon … and end Hezbollah's terrorist hegemony over every aspect of the state,” Mr Bukhari said in a statement to AFP.
Hezbollah's terrorist activities and regional military behaviour threaten Arab national security
Waleed Bukhari,
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon
“Hezbollah's terrorist activities and regional military behaviour threaten Arab national security,” he said.
Mr Bukhari's statement comes after Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Shiite movement, accused Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism in a televised speech on Monday.
Mr Nasrallah's comments were promptly dismissed by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who said they did not serve Lebanon's national interest or represent the country's official stance.
“What … Nasrallah said about the kingdom of Saudi Arabia this evening does not represent the position of the Lebanese government and most Lebanese. It is not in Lebanon's interest to offend any Arab country, especially the Gulf states,” Mr Mikati said on Monday evening.
“For God's sake, have mercy on Lebanon and the Lebanese people and stop the hateful sectarian and political rhetoric.”
A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government against Iran-backed rebels recently presented evidence of Hezbollah's role in training them in the use of armed drones used to attack the kingdom.
Riyadh suspended diplomatic ties with Lebanon in late October after the airing of statements by the Lebanese information minister at the time criticising Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan later said that Hezbollah's dominance in Lebanon, and not just the minister's comments, had prompted the kingdom to cut ties.
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
