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on Thursday announced a return of their ambassadors to in a sign of improving ties that hit rock bottom last year when the kingdom and other Gulf states withdrew their envoys.

Saudi Arabia and fellow wealthy Gulf states were once major donors for Lebanon but relations have been strained for years by the growing influence of the movement.

The Saudi foreign ministry said its ambassador returned in response to calls by "moderate" Lebanese political forces and after remarks by Prime Minister Najib Mikati regarding "ending all political, military and security activities" that affect Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

The Saudi statement on state news agency SPA stressed the importance of Lebanon "returning to its Arab depth".

Kuwait's foreign ministry issued a similar statement. Mikati's office said Kuwait's envoy would return before the end of the week.

The Gulf rift has added to the difficulties facing Lebanon as it struggles with a financial crisis that the World Bank has described as one of the sharpest depressions ever recorded.

Mikati, in a Twitter post welcoming the move, said Lebanon was "proud of its Arab affiliation and upholds the best relations with Gulf states", describing them as pillars of support.

نثمن قرار المملكة العربية السعودية عودة سفيرها الى لبنان، ونؤكد ان لبنان يفخر بانتمائه العربي ويتمسك بأفضل العلاقات مع دول الخليج التي كانت وستبقى السند والعضد.

— Najib Mikati (@Najib_Mikati)

Souring ties had hit new lows last October after a former Lebanese government minister criticised the Saudi-led military coalition , a conflict widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Hezbollah supports Tehran in its regional struggle for influence with U.S.-allied Gulf Arab states, which say the group has aided Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

Hezbollah has a militia more powerful than Lebanon's army and has backed pro-Iran allies in the region, including in Syria. The group and its allies also exercise major sway over Lebanese state policy.

(Reuters)