Arab Analyst Underlines Failure of Riyadh's Plots against Hezbollah

Rasa - Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm newspaper, stressed that all calculations by Saudi Arabia to ignite a war in Lebanon and mobilize the Lebanese against Hezbollah resistance group by forcing Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to resign were proved wrong.

News ID: 434750

Date: 13 November 2017 - 22:05

RNA - "Saudi Arabia decided to transfer the battle to Lebanon after being surprised by Ansarullah's power and its resistance during the 2.5-year war and witnessing ballistic missile strike against Riyadh concurrently with decreased crisis in Qatar and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's remaining in power," Atwan wrote on Monday.

He added that Saudi Arabia believed that forcing Hariri to resign will have catastrophic political, economic and even security consequences for Lebanon and will lead to a revolution by the Lebanese against Hezbollah.

"But what happened was completely different and Hariri's detention led to a national consensus in Lebanon to criticize Riyadh and more dangerously the foreign media with different approaches joined the campaign to call on Saudi Arabia to rapidly free Hariri so that he can return to Lebanon," Atwan said.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Saturday Hariri, who announced his resignation in a broadcast from Saudi Arabia, has been “kidnapped” and must have immunity.

Aoun made the remarks in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in the capital Beirut, a senior unnamed Lebanese official said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by Aoun's office on Saturday, the Lebanese president expressed concern over Hariri's situation and said the premier was living in a “dubious” situation in Saudi Arabia. He added that anything Hariri has said or may say “does not reflect reality” due to the mystery of his situation.

Any stance or move by Hariri “is the result of the dubious and mysterious situation that he is living in the kingdom,” Aoun added.

Aoun further called on Riyadh to clarify why Hariri hasn't returned home since announcing his resignation in the kingdom last week.

“Lebanon does not accept its prime minister being in a situation at odds with international treaties and the standard rules in relations between states,” he said.

He added that a marathon planned in Beirut on Sunday in which tens of thousands are expected to participate should be “a national sports demonstration for solidarity with Prime Minister Hariri and his return to his country.”

Meanwhile, the Arabic-language al-Joumhouria (The Republic) daily newspaper quoted Aoun as saying on Saturday that Beirut would refer Hariri’s case to the UN Security Council within a week if his destiny remains unclear.

Hariri announced his resignation on November 4, citing several reasons, including the security situation in Lebanon, for his sudden decision. He also said that he realized a plot being hatched against his life.

Hariri also accused Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, of meddling in the Arab countries’ affairs; an allegation the two have rejected.

The Lebanese prime minister announced his resignation following visits to Saudi Arabia.

The resignation also comes less than a month after he announced plans to join a coalition government with Hezbollah.

Many authorities in Lebanon have insisted on the return of Hariri from Saudi Arabia. Several sources believe that Saudi Arabia is holding Hariri against his will, a claim the kingdom has rejected.

847/940