Arab Analyst:

Riyadh Beating War Drums by Hariri's Resignation

Rasa - Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm newspaper, described resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri as a Saudi-US gambling, stressing that Riyadh is beating the drums of war against Hezbollah.

News ID: 434621

Date: 05 November 2017 - 20:58

RNA - "It doesn’t seem that Hariri's resignation is due to his fear of life as he appeared in Beirut very normally and Hezbollah protected him and he was appointed as prime minister with Hezbollah's agreement," Atwan wrote on Sunday.

Noting that the resignation has been plotted within the framework of a Saudi-US plot to target Hezbollah which is a danger to Israel and Saudi Arabia for its media and political support for Ansarollah in Yemen, he said, "Information shows that Saudi Arabia, in coordination with US President Donald Trump, is after formation of an Arab coalition like what was formed against Yemen whose likely target is Hezbollah and it is not unlikely that Israel will be the backbone of this coalition."

Atwan added that reports from London also indicate that Saudi Arabia has contacted Jordan and invited it to join the coalition, stressing that the reports have not yet been confirmed.

In relevant remarks on Saturday, Senior Advisor to the Iranian foreign minister Hossein Sheikholeslam underlined that Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman have coaxed al-Hariri into declaring his resignation in a foreign country.

"Al-Hariri's resignation was done in coordination with Trump and Mohammed bin Salman to foment tension in Lebanon and the region," Sheikholeslam said.

Noting that the resignation was planned by the Americans to make up for their losses after the ISIL was defeated in the region, he said it was better for al-Hariri to respect the Lebanese nation and submit his resignation inside the country and not from a foreign state, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Hariri resigned during a trip to Saudi Arabia in a surprise move that plunged the country into uncertainty amid heightened regional tensions.

In a televised address from Riyadh, al-Hariri launched a vicious tirade against Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group for what he claimed was their meddling in Arab affairs.

Al-Hariri was appointed prime minister in late 2016 and headed a 30-member national unity cabinet.

Al-Hariri’s resignation on Saturday was expected to sharply raise tensions in the country.

In his speech, he claimed he feared for his life and that the atmosphere in the country is similar to the one that existed before his father, the late prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, was assassinated in 2005.

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