Saudi ambassador leaves Lebanon after blast

The Saudi ambassador to Beirut has reportedly left Lebanon after the Friday terrorist attack by a Takfiri group which targeted the Lebanese security chief.

Ali Awad Assiri left Lebanon after tens of terrorism suspects were arrested, IRNA reported.

Informed sources say most of the suspects apprehended at the hotels in Al Hamra district in downtown Beirut are foreign nationals with Arab passports, including Saudi individuals, and even French citizens.

According to Lebanese Interior Minister Nahad al-Mashnouq, interrogation of the arrested suspects is underway and those innocent will be released.

Following the terrorist incident, the US ambassador to Lebanon cancelled his meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and France urged its citizens across Lebanon to avoid outdoor activities.

At least two people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after a bomb blast rocked a Lebanese police checkpoint on the Beirut-Damascus highway on Friday.

The bomb went off when Internal Security Forces (ISF) personnel were searching a vehicle in Dahr al-Baidar checkpoint in the eastern Bekaa Valley.

“Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade” Takfiri Terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
The terrorist attack basically targeted Lebanese security chief Abbas Ibrahim, but failed to achieve its aim as the commander entered the scene a few moments after the incident.

Lebanon has been suffering from terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda-linked militants as well as random rocket attacks, which are viewed as a spillover of the conflict in Syria.

Meanwhile, foreign-backed militants in Syria have on many occasions attacked Lebanese border areas where the majority of the residents support the Syrian government.