Riyadh has issued several similar calls in the past two years as the conflict in Syria has inflamed political and sectarian tension in neighboring Lebanon.

"Saudi ambassador Ali Awadh al-Asseiri said on Thursday... that the embassy urged Saudi nationals to leave Lebanon, considering the alarming security situation," the Lebanese National News Agency reported, citing a phone call with Asseiri.

Some commentators in Lebanon have accused Saudi Arabia of being behind Tuesday's blasts near the embassy of Iran.

A Lebanese-based militant group close to al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

Al-Qaeda has been one of the main forces conducting the war against Syria which has been taking thousands of lives with the support of regional and Western countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar for more than two years.

The Syrian government strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Iran's embassy, saying, “Petro-dollar is smelled in the terrorism hitting Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, and thus the Syrian government calls upon the Lebanese people to stick to the national unity to confront terrorism.”

NTJ/SHI