Lebanon’s Hariri takes tough line on Hezbollah, cites Arab ties

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who recently walked back his surprise resignation in Saudi Arabia, says he will not accept the Hezbollah resistance movement’s stance should it endanger Beirut’s Arab allies.

“We will not accept the positions of Hezbollah that affect our Arab brothers or target the security and stability of their countries,” Hariri’s media office quoted him as saying during a meeting with members of the Supreme Islamic Sharia Council in Beirut on Saturday.

Hariri stunned Lebanon on November 4 by announcing his resignation in a live television broadcast from Saudi Arabia. He accused Iran and Hezbollah of sowing strife in the Arab world, an allegation rejected by both sides.

Senior sources close to Hariri and top Lebanese officials said Riyadh had coerced the Lebanese premier into stepping down and put him under house arrest.

Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun refused to accept Hariri’s resignation, stressing that he was being detained in Saudi Arabia against his will.

After brief visits to France, Egypt and Cyprus, Hariri returned to Lebanon on November 22 and put his resignation on hold.

The Hezbollah parliamentary group, the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, welcomed Hariri’s return to Lebanon and voiced its “great satisfaction” with recent political developments in the country. It said Hariri’s latest “positive statements” signaled a possible return to normalcy in Lebanon.

Referring to the suspension of his resignation, Hariri said on Saturday that the decision was in line with Lebanon’s “disassociation” policy.

“The steps we have taken at the request of President Michel Aoun give us an opportunity to discuss and ensure that Lebanon is neutralized and kept away from the conflicts in the region,” he said.

Lebanon, he noted, had been targeted by some disruptive elements, but it could overcome the problems through coordination and unity.

Hariri further expressed hope that his country would follow the path of stability in the future.

“What we have heard in the past couple of days has assured us that we are on the right path, the path of stability and prosperity,” he said.

Hariri’s family in Paris

Separately on Saturday, Hariri’s office announced that French President Emmanuel Macron had received the Lebanese prime minister’s wife, Lara, and youngest children Loulwa and Abdelaziz in Paris.

The Hariri family arrived in France on Thursday “for a holiday” and will stay there for a few days, according to the office.

Loulwa and Abdelaziz Hariri had not accompanied their father in his November 18 visit to Paris. A source close to Hariri said that the two children had stayed behind in the Saudi capital “for their school exams.”

However, Hariri’s elder son, Houssam, had joined his father in Paris from London.

Gordon Duff

Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.

Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.

Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.

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