No, George Kordahi Did Not Announce His Resignation
The Claim
Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi resigned.
News posted on
Emerging story
Accounts and pages on Facebook and Twitter have recently circulated news that George Kordahi, Lebanon’s Minister of Information, resigned on October 31, 2021.
Misbar’s Analysis
George Kordahi stated on Oct. 31 that his resignation from the Lebanese government is “out of the question.”
The claim comes against the backdrop of the diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and several Gulf states because of a previous statement by Kordahi on the Yemen war before he took office as minister of information in Lebanon.
Last August, George Kordahi said during a TV show that the Houthis in Yemen were “defending themselves … against an external aggression.” Answering whether he thought Saudi Arabia’s and UAE’s actions in Yemen represented aggression against Yemen, Kordahi said that there is indeed aggression and that the war in Yemen is futile and should stop.”
The recent recirculation of these statements has caused a diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and Gulf states. Saudi Arabia has ordered the Lebanese minister to leave the country and recalled its ambassador from Beirut, and so did Bahrain. Kuwait has also recalled its ambassador from Beirut, while the UAE has placed all its diplomats from Lebanon. Qatar’s foreign ministry has condemned Kordahi’s statements.
