Lebanese PM visits troops at border with Israel while Saudi Arabia evacuates families of diplomats

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB
Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has visited troops deployed near the border with Israel, and Saudi Arabia is evacuating families of diplomatic staff because of clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops. Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s visit Tuesday to the tense southern province is the first since clashes erupted along the border following a surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7.  It comes two days after Israel’s prime minister visited troops along the border. Mikati and international governments have been scrambling to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding to Lebanon.