DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has advised its citizens against traveling to Lebanon and asked those who are in the country to leave as soon as possible, the kingdom's official news agency (SPA) quoted an official source in the Saudi Foreign Ministry as saying.

"Due to the circumstances in the Lebanese Republic, the kingdom asks its citizens who are visiting or residing" there to leave as soon as possible, the source quoted by the news agency said Thursday, adding that Saudi Arabian citizens were advised not to travel to Lebanon from any country.

Kuwait has issued the same advice to its citizens, according to a statement from Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry. Bahrain Sunday also urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon and advised those already in the country to leave immediately for their safety, its foreign ministry said in a statement at time.

The advisories come on the heels of the shock resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri from Riyadh on Saturday. In his televised speech from the Saudi capital, Hariri cited his reasons as Iran’s growing influence in the region and fears of attempts on his life. He is yet to return to Lebanon and the country remains gripped with uncertainty.

After the reported Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry announcement, Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan tweeted that "All actions will be taken sequentially and continue escalating until things return to normal."