Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador persona non grata

Lebanon has declared Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country by Sunday, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, March 24.

The ministry also summoned Lebanon's ambassador to Iran for consultations, citing what it described as Tehran's violation of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries.

The decision comes as the Israeli army continues to attack Lebanon with airstrikes and pushes forward with a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities say at least 1,039 people have been killed and 2,876 injured in Israeli attacks since early March. More than 1.5 million Lebanese people have been displaced.

Israeli strikes have further strained relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, which has resisted government attempts to disarm the group. The Lebanese government banned Hezbollah's military activities on March 2.