During a secret meeting with the Lebanese army commander in Beirut, the Saudi ambassador called for the Lebanon to distance itself from Hezbollah.
Lebanese news sources reported a secret meeting between Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun and Saudi Ambassador Walid al-Bukhari in Beirut.
Al-Akhbar reported that during the meeting, the Lebanese army asked for help from “brotherly and friendly countries”; a meeting attended by a large number of military attachés from Arab and foreign embassies.
According to Al-Akhbar, the Riyadh ambassador told Aoun that Saudi Arabia had a condition to help the Lebanese army, and claimed that Hezbollah-affiliated forces were “interfering in the actions of this military entity, contrary to orders.”
According to the report, the commander of the Lebanese army responded to the Saudi ambassador by saying that Hezbollah had no forces inside the army and that “everyone knows that Hezbollah cannot interfere in the work of the army and its organization.”
Aoun also stressed that the statements of various parties, including the West, could not be taken into account; because these people mean officers and soldiers who are related to Hezbollah forces.
Al-Akhbar stressed that al-Bukhari’s move is in line with US orders to Arab and Western countries to support the Lebanese army.