France and Saudi Arabia have teamed up to try and solve the Lebanon crisis in a new initiative, according to The New Arab.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the joint Saudi-French initiative on Saturday, to mend relations between Lebanon and Gulf states after comments made by former communications minister George Kordahi sparked a row.
Macron said that Saudi Arabia had committed to supporting reforms in Lebanon, which could help solve its crisis and reserve sovereignty.
READ: Saudi prince launches attack on Lebanon’s former information minister
Relations between Lebanon and the Gulf countries collapsed after former communications minister George Kordahi defended the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, saying they were acting in “self-defence”.
He added that the Houthis were not aggressors, in comments that have been seen to mean he views Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a negative light.
This caused a huge rift between crisis-hit Lebanon and gulf states Saudi Arabia the UAE, both of which saw the comments as an attack on their joint coalition and ongoing military campaign.
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