LBCI

France's Macron says hoping for progress on Lebanon "within next hours"

Middle East

03-12-2021 | 09:14

Share

Share

France's Macron says hoping for progress on Lebanon "within next hours"

2^min

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday he hoped talks he would hold in Saudi Arabia later in the day would help alleviate tension between Gulf States and Lebanon.

Lebanon's Information Minister George Kordahi resigned on Friday to help end a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia over comments he had made criticizing Saudi Arabia's role in the war in Yemen, which had prompted Riyadh to ban Lebanese imports.

"We will see at the end of this trip - and I remain cautious - but my wish is both economically and politically, to be able to re-engage all the Gulf countries in the relationship with Lebanon, to help them get out of this," Macron said in Dubai ahead of traveling to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I hope the coming hours will allow us to make progress," he said, adding that hoped this would allow Prime Minister Najib Mikati to convene his government and press ahead with stalled economic reform efforts.

Saudi Arabia expelled Lebanon's envoy, recalled its ambassador from Beirut and banned Lebanese imports after the information minister's comments, which Riyadh said were a symptom of Iran-backed Hezbollah's grip on Lebanon.

Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran have long battled for influence in the region, including in Lebanon, which is struggling with a deep economic crisis and desperately needs financial support from regional and international donors.

REUTERS

Breaking Headlines

Lebanon News

France

Lebanon

Macron

Hope

Progress

Crisis

Government

Najib Mikati

Kordahi

Resignation

PM

Minister

Gulf

Row

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Rabih Khalife tells LBCI: Lebanon is facing water scarcity, this year is exceptional

2025-11-24

Rabih Khalife tells LBCI: Lebanon is facing water scarcity, this year is exceptional

UNIFIL spokesperson says peacekeepers will continue their mission in South Lebanon through 2026

06:40

UNIFIL spokesperson says peacekeepers will continue their mission in South Lebanon through 2026

Iran holds drills in Gulf, firing ballistic, cruise missiles at simulated targets

Middle East News

07:39

Iran holds drills in Gulf, firing ballistic, cruise missiles at simulated targets

Speaker Berri to Security Council envoys: Stability in South Lebanon requires full Israeli compliance with UN Resolution 1701

06:17

Speaker Berri to Security Council envoys: Stability in South Lebanon requires full Israeli compliance with UN Resolution 1701

Videos

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

2025-12-01

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

2025-12-01

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Hezbollah's Naim Qassem criticizes inclusion of civilian in mechanism talks

1

Hezbollah's Naim Qassem criticizes inclusion of civilian in mechanism talks

President Aoun tells Security Council delegation Lebanon is committed to arms-control plan and open to post-UNIFIL options

2

President Aoun tells Security Council delegation Lebanon is committed to arms-control plan and open to post-UNIFIL options

PM Salam says Lebanon needs international support force following end of UNIFIL's mandate

3

PM Salam says Lebanon needs international support force following end of UNIFIL's mandate

US envoy Ortagus welcomes expanded civilian role in ceasefire-monitoring mechanism meetings

4

US envoy Ortagus welcomes expanded civilian role in ceasefire-monitoring mechanism meetings

Dual-front strategy: Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon while courting Syria diplomatically

5

Dual-front strategy: Israel intensifies strikes in Lebanon while courting Syria diplomatically

CENTCOM: Syria intercepted multiple weapons shipments bound for Hezbollah

6

CENTCOM: Syria intercepted multiple weapons shipments bound for Hezbollah

As Lebanon's gridlock continues, Syria accelerates its own financial reset

7

As Lebanon's gridlock continues, Syria accelerates its own financial reset

UNIFIL spokesperson says peacekeepers will continue their mission in South Lebanon through 2026

8

UNIFIL spokesperson says peacekeepers will continue their mission in South Lebanon through 2026

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More