A general view of the Bay of Jounieh with houses and roads, north of Beirut, Lebanon, February 15, 2016.

Saudi’s ambassador to Lebanon said the kingdom has only warned against travel to the Arab country and has not imposed a ban, the envoy said in an interview with the Arabic website for Al Arabiya News Channel.

Ali Awad Assiri said the foreign ministry’s warning is only intended to keep Saudi citizens safe.

Meanwhile, he said the embassy is ready to help speed up the evacuation of Saudi nationals as well as businessmen living in Lebanon.

“We at the embassy are reading to receive leave requests to offer all the help and facilitations to them,” he added.

He also advised businessmen to start delegating tasks and take precautions after the warning.

Saudi cut its $4 billion military aid to Lebanon after it Beirut’s failure to back the Sunni kingdom in its spat with Shiite powerhouse Iran, the leading backer of Hezbollah.

Related articles across the web

• Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain urge citizens to avoid Lebanon
• Saudi Arabia warns citizens to leave Lebanon after aid cut
• Saudi Arabia urges citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid visiting
• Lebanon PM to visit Gulf after Saudi aid cutoff
• Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE warn citizens against traveling to Lebanon
• Saudi Begins New Sectarian War With Cohesive, Tolerant Lebanon
• Saudi and UAE ban citizens from travelling to Lebanon
• Following Saudi Arabia, UAE issues travel ban to Lebanon
• Saudi Arabia warns citizens to leave Lebanon after aid cut
• Saudi Arabia and UAE Tell Citizens to Avoid Lebanon