Beirut: The Saudi envoy to Lebanon says the kingdom will deport Lebanese citizens who support the militant Hezbollah group because of its role in the Syrian civil war.

Ambassador Ali Awad Assiri told Lebanon’s Future TV late on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will deport “those who financially support this party.”

He didn’t say when such deportations would begin.

Saudi Arabia is a strong backer of the Syrian opposition trying to remove President Bashar Al Assad from power.

Al Assad belongs to the minority Alawite sect. Shiite Hezbollah fighters were instrumental in a recent regime victory when government forces regained control of the strategic town of Qusayr near the Lebanese border.

There are tens of thousands of Lebanese — including Shiites — working in the kingdom.