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- The ministry said the statements showed a clear bias toward the Houthis who threaten regional stability
- UAE condemned Kordahi's 鈥渄isgraceful and biased statements鈥� and summoned the Lebanese ambassador
RIYADH: 抖阴短视频 summoned the Lebanese ambassador to the Kingdom on Wednesday over 鈥渙ffensive鈥� comments made by Lebanon鈥檚 information minister.
The foreign ministry expressed its disappointment at George Kordahi regarding the Arab coalition in Yemen.
It said it was disappointed by the 鈥渋nsults contained in those statements directed at the Kingdom and countries part of the Arab coalition.鈥�
The ministry said that the statements showed a clear bias toward the Houthis who threaten security and stability in the region.
The 鈥渟tatements contradict the simplest political norms and are inconsistent with the historic relations between the two brotherly peoples,鈥� the ministry added.
Kordahi sparked controversy on Tuesday when a video of him referring to the Houthis as defending themselves emerged online. He also called the war in Yemen 鈥渇utile.鈥�
The comments were made before he took up his current position.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the interview was recorded more than a month before his cabinet was formed and reflected a personal opinion that had nothing to do with government.
The Houthis continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom and Yemen almost daily.
The UAE condemned the 鈥渄isgraceful and biased statements鈥� made by Kordahi and summoned the Lebanese ambassador to the country in protest.
The Emirati foreign ministry said it informed the ambassador of its protest and denunciation of the statements, saying they 鈥渞eflect Lebanon鈥檚 growing distance from its Arab brotherly countries.鈥�
The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the comments while Bahrain summoned the Lebanese envoy to protest against the statements.
Kuwait also summoned Lebanon's charge d鈥檃ffaires and the Yemeni foreign ministry called on Beirut to clarify its position on the comments, according to a statement issued by its embassy in Beirut.