Kuwait suspends issuing all kinds of visas to Lebanese

DUBAI - Kuwait has suspended issuing visas of all kinds to Lebanese citizens on the back of a diplomatic spat with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, leading local newspaper al-Qabas newspaper reported on Wednesday citing a source.

The country has already recalled its ambassador to Beirut and asked the Lebanese charge d'affaires to leave following remarks by a Lebanese information George Kordahi minister criticising the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. 

Kordahi said he won't resign or apologize to the Saudis, for comments he made before he was minister even though Lebanon desperately needs Riyadh's financial backing. Instead, the former entertainer known for his smooth style is relying on the backing of Saudi Arabia’s nemesis, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.

Kordahi became a politician only late in life, joining the Lebanese Cabinet in September at the age of 71.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have withdrawn their ambassadors from Lebanon in protest over the comments. The diplomatic spat is putting hundreds of millions of dollars in trade and assistance from the oil-rich nations at risk at a time of dire need for Lebanon.