KUWAIT ordered the immediate withdrawal of its ambassador to Lebanon on Saturday, deepening a diplomatic row over a Lebanese minister’s criticism of the Saudi Arabian-led war on Yemen.

Kuwait cited “the continuation of negative statements from Lebanon” and the “historical relationship between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia” as it also expelled Beirut’s diplomat.

Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador and gave Lebanon’s envoy 48 hours to leave the country last Friday after “insulting” remarks by Lebanon’s Information Minister George Kordahi were uncovered.

In an interview, recorded before he was appointed to the cabinet but aired early last week, Mr Kordahi said that Yemen’s Houthi forces were defending themselves against foreign aggression, adding that “homes, villages, funerals and weddings were being bombed.” 

He also called for the conflict to end, branding it futile.

Saudi Arabia has also halted all imports from Lebanon, but Mr Kordahi has stood by his comments and refused to back down.

His photograph appeared on billboards in Yemen over the weekend as an act of solidarity.

Tens of thousands have been killed by the Saudi-led bombing campaign on the country since it began in 2014.

The United Nations says that the war has put Yemen on the brink of the world’s worst famine in more than a century.