Hariri: Hezbollah’s position in region ‘unacceptable’

By Furkan Guldemir

BEIRUT

Lebanon’s prime minister on Saturday accused Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah of “intervening in the internal affairs of the region’s countries”.

“We will not accept Hezbollah’s position that affect our Arab brothers or targets the stability and security in region’s countries,” Saad Hariri said in a statement.

Hariri said his decision Wednesday to shelve his resignation was made at the request of President Michel Aoun and “opened up for discussion Lebanon’s neutrality and standing off in the face of regional conflicts”.

Hariri also emphasized that Lebanon’s future depends on that stand, which Hariri described as “dissociation policy”.

On Nov. 4, Hariri announced his resignation in a televised address from Saudi Arabia, accusing Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of sowing “sedition” in the region and “meddling” in Arab affairs.

He also hinted at an alleged plot to assassinate him.

Saudi Arabia, Hariri’s long-time political patron, is Iran’s arch-foe in the region. Riyadh supports Syria’s armed opposition while Iran and Hezbollah both support Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime.