Explained: The Lebanon-Gulf Cooperation Council crisis

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) withdrew its diplomats from Lebanon, over a Lebanese minister’s criticism of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.
There have been widespread reactions to recent statements by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi which resulted in the Arab isolation of Lebanon, especially after Saudi Arabia announced the withdrawal of ambassadors, followed by Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
George Kordahi’s statement A television interview aired on Monday, October 25, which Kordahi did in early August, just over a month before joining the government, in which he said that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels are “defending themselves … against an external aggression”, adding that “homes, villages, funerals and weddings were being bombed” by the coalition.
He also called the seven-year war in Yemen “futile” and said it was “time for it to end”.
Gulf states summoned Lebanese ambassadors The critical remarks angered Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Over the past two days, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain have recalled their ambassadors, while the six Gulf Cooperation Council states – which also include Qatar and Oman – have condemned Kordahi’s comments.
Saudi Arabia expelled Lebanon’s envoy and banned all Lebanese imports on Friday, and Bahrain and Kuwait followed suit on Saturday, giving the top Lebanese diplomats 48 hours to exit. The UAE also advised its citizens not to travel to Lebanon.