Lebanon’s PM resigns, says he fears for his life, slams Iran and Hezbollah
5 replies, posted
[URL="https://www.timesofisrael.com/lebanons-pm-resigns-citing-irans-growing-influence/"]https://www.timesofisrael.com/lebanons-pm-resigns-citing-irans-growing-influence/[/URL]
[QUOTE]Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri resigned from his post Saturday during a trip to Saudi Arabia less than a year after taking office, in a surprise move that plunged the country into uncertainty amid heightened regional tensions.
In a televised address from Riyadh, Hariri said he feared for his life: “We are living in a climate similar to the atmosphere that prevailed before the assassination of martyr Rafik Hariri” — Saad’s father, a former prime minister who was assassinated in 2005, allegedly by Hezbollah. “I am aware of what is being plotted to target my life,” he said.
“The evil that Iran spreads in the region will backfire on it,” Hariri said, accusing Tehran of spreading chaos, strife and destruction throughout the region.
“Iran has a grip on the fate of the region’s countries… Hezbollah is Iran’s arm not just in Lebanon but in other Arab countries too,” he said.
“In recent years, Hezbollah has used the power of its weapons to impose a fait accompli,” he said, reading a speech from behind a desk.
Hariri was appointed prime minister in late 2016 and headed a 30-member national unity cabinet that included the Shiite terror group Hezbollah. The government has largely succeeded in protecting the country from the effects of the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Hariri said Hezbollah’s policies have put Lebanon “in the eye of the storm.” His attacks on Hezbollah come on the heels of new US sanctions on the group that many fear will impact negatively on the Lebanese economy.
“Hezbollah was able in past decades to impose a status quo in Lebanon through its weapons directed at the chests of Syrians and Lebanese,” he said.
“When I took office, I promised you that I would seek to unite the Lebanese, end political division and establish the principle of self-sufficiency, but I have been unable to do so. Despite my efforts, Iran continues to abuse Lebanon,” he said.
Israel has said Tehran is working to establish footholds in Lebanon and Syria with which to attack Israel.
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Situation is quite tense in Lebanon because of this. Family there is telling me the streets are deserted - there's a fear that another civil war will break out.
[QUOTE=agentalexandre;52858381]Situation is quite tense in Lebanon because of this. Family there is telling me the streets are deserted - there's a fear that another civil war will break out.[/QUOTE]
I hope everyone manages to keep their cool. The region has more than enough to deal with already. Stay safe, you and your family.
I've had the pleasure of visiting Lebanon and honestly it is a beautiful country, there's a huge division there between religions (Christians in one city and Muslims in another) but traveling between both seems to be pretty safe most of the time. it's a shame the middle east is in such a mess because there's a lot to see and love there.
[QUOTE=Lebofly;52859533]I've had the pleasure of visiting Lebanon and honestly it is a beautiful country, there's a huge division there between religions (Christians in one city and Muslims in another) but traveling between both seems to be pretty safe most of the time. it's a shame the middle east is in such a mess because there's a lot to see and love there.[/QUOTE]
my lebanese friends when i was a kid used to tell me about their holidays over there and it sounded like a beautiful landscape.
I do wish things in Lebanon get sorted so that I could one day travel there. My grandfather has a few friends in that country, that he met funny enough when he was an IDF soldier in the first Lebanon-Israel war.
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