DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will continue supporting Lebanon and is optimistic about the country's future after a ceasefire brought an end to a war between Israel and the militant Iran-aligned Hezbollah group, the kingdom's foreign minister said from Beirut.

Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat has visited Lebanon for the first time in a decade following years of strained relations between the oil-rich kingdom and the tiny Mediterranean country.

On Thursday, for the first time since the 2010 Saudi Arabia-Syria Summit, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will visit Beirut. This visit comes after more than five years of strained relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan became the most senior Saudi Arabian official to visit Beirut in more than a decade on Thursday, marking the kingdom’s attempt to rebuild relations with Lebanon after the country elected a new president.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visits Lebanon on Thursday in the first trip to Beirut by Riyadh's top diplomat in 15 years, seeking a commitment to reform as the Gulf state reasserts sway in a country where Iranian influence is waning.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah expressed on Thursday the Kingdom’s optimism over Lebanon’s future. Prince Faisal was in Lebanon on Thursday on an official visit, the first by a Saudi FM in 15 years.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Thursday that the oil-rich kingdom stands by Lebanon, but stressed that the war-ravaged, crisis-ridden country needs to adopt necessary reforms.

Saudi Arabia's energy minister and several of his OPEC+ counterparts have held talks following U.S. President Donald Trump's call for lower oil prices and ahead of a meeting next week of OPEC+ oil-producing countries,

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat landed in Beirut on Thursday to meet the country's new leadership in the first visit by a high-ranking official from the kingdom after more than a decade of strained ties.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visits Lebanon for the first time in 15 years, seeking reform commitments as the Gulf nation rebuilds influence while Iranian sway diminishes. The visit marks major political changes in Lebanon post-conflict and amidst financial turmoil.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Tuesday that he plans to visit Beirut this week. “We will need to see a commitment to a Lebanon that is looking to the future ...

During a press conference Friday with his Syrian counterpart, bin Farhan said Saudi Arabia was standing by Syria, pointing to "the importance of accelerating the lifting and freezing of all sanctions".