In January, Kuwait’s highest court overturned the death sentence imposed by a lower tribunal against one of the men, reducing it to life, it also reduced the life sentence for another man to 15 years in prison and sentenced several others previously judged “not guilty” to 10 years. Twelve of the Kuwaiti nationals convicted in absentia were arrested Saturday on charges of spying for Iran and Hezbollah. Two other Kuwaitis and one Iranian national remain at large. In July, Kuwait expelled 15 diplomats for alleged links to the cell. “There is a great Kuwaiti resentment toward [this matter] and they are right about it, and we in Lebanon will cooperate on the issue,” Hariri said.

Following a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabagh, Hariri said he was hopeful this resentment would not translate into measures against Lebanon, but said the issue had to be addressed “clearly and boldly” in order to prevent further strains between the two countries. President Michel Aoun also pledged to follow up on the issue. “The Kuwaiti people, state and emir always treated Lebanon and the Lebanese as they treat the Kuwaitis. I hope that the relations will improve,” Hariri said. The diplomatic strain recently led to speculation that Gulf Cooperation Council countries could implement a blockade against Lebanon, similar to that against Qatar, with dire repercussions for economic stability.

Hariri confirmed that the Lebanese government was in contact with Hezbollah over the issue and promised a positive end to the crisis. Asked whether Kuwait had provided any evidence of Hezbollah’s involvement, the prime minister remained vague and said Lebanon would cooperate to the fullest with Kuwait’s security forces and judiciary. He also assured that he would follow up on the matter personally.Before leaving for Kuwait Saturday night, Hariri said that “despite all differences” between Lebanese political parties, including Hezbollah, he would continue to “protect the country” and “prioritize national interest.”

Kuwait delivered a memo to Lebanon last month to protest Hezbollah’s alleged assistance to operatives of the Abdali cell. The memo called on the Lebanese government to intervene to stop Hezbollah’s alleged provision of weapons, funds and intelligence to the cell.

Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah has previously rejected the allegations.

In a televised joint news conference with Hariri, Kuwait’s foreign minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah, said that the Kuwaiti government was in possession of a confession from the arrested members of the Abdali cell that prove Hezbollah’s involvement.

“We will present the evidence we have and let them [Lebanon] reply with evidence,” Sheikh Sabah said. “We have confessions and the confession is the master of evidence. After providing our brothers in Lebanon with the details of the verdict, the relation of Hezbollah with this cell and the kind of help provided by members of Hezbollah to it, we expect them to submit counterevidence and to check our evidence.” The suspected cell members have all appealed their convictions. The charges, their lawyers say, were based on confessions nearly all of the defendants allege were extracted under torture.