Caretaker Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe announced on Tuesday that he was stepping down from office after insulting remarks he made against Saud Arabia and Gulf countries.
Watch: Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe insults Saudi Arabians by referring to a Saudi guest on a show as "one of the Bedouin people" after the minister appeared to blame the Gulf countries for the rise of ISIS earlier during the interview.https://t.co/LI6P2l5vKk pic.twitter.com/IwJYJE69K2
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 18, 2021
“I asked to be relieved of my duties and responsibilities as a foreign minister in the caretaker government,” announced Wehbe after meeting President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace.
Wehbe's remarks to the U.S.-backed Alhurra news channel that Gulf countries provided backing to extremists caused a firestorm in Lebanon and among Gulf countries.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates summoned their Lebanese ambassadors Tuesday to protest his remarks.
#Lebanon FM Charbel Wehbe quits over #Saudi slur https://t.co/nhYxlFi4kP pic.twitter.com/XLIVnjG3ZQ
— Ahram Online (@ahramonline) May 19, 2021
This article has been adapted from its original source.