Saudi Arabia cancels $4 bln aid package to Lebanon

Saudi Arabia said on Friday it halted a $4 billion aid package to the Lebanese army and internal security service in response to Lebanon’s failure to condemn attacks on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing an official source.

The aid program includes a $3 billion package aimed at supporting Lebanon’s purchase of French weapons and $1 billion for the Lebanese internal security forces.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has “confiscated the will of the state and failed to condemn attacks on Saudi embassy in Tehran,” the Saudi state-owned news agency said.

Saudi Arabia added Hezbollah's attitude is "not in line" with the brotherly relations between the two countries.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam urged Saudi Arabia to reconsider.

"We express our deep appreciation for King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his brothers in the Saudi leadership ... and we hope for a reconsideration of the decision to halt the aid for our army and security forces," Salam said in a statement.