Destabilising Lebanon will only strengthen Hezbollah

The sudden resignation of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri in November 2017 thrust the country into renewed political crisis. Less than a year after he had re-entered office, his departure raised fears that Lebanon was being dragged anew into the dangerous crosswinds of the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Hariri justified his resignation by pointing to Tehran’s destructive regional interventions and threats to his own life. But his abdication was widely seen as orchestrated by Saudi Arabia, not least because Hariri announced the decision from Riyadh.

The author said that the Europeans should work to blunt the impact of Saudi Arabia’s strategy and prevent dangerous confrontation.

• Primary Source

The Conversation, 13.11.17: Why Lebanon faces another crisis – and what Saudi Arabia stands to lose https://theconversation.com/why-lebanon-faces-another-crisis-and-what-saudi-arabia-stands-to-lose-87287

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 10.01.18: Is Lebanon Set for an Oil Bonanza? https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/lebanon-set-oil-bonanza

EU: EEAS: Statement, 08.11.17: Statement by EU Ambassadors in Lebanon https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/35238/statement-eu-ambassadors-lebanon_en

BBC News, 10.11.17: Saudi Lebanon: Hezbollah lashes out over Saad al-Hariri http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-41946310

The Guardian, 10.11.17: [Editorial]: The Guardian view on Lebanon: great power rivalry in a tiny state https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/10/the-guardian-view-on-lebanon-great-power-rivalry-in-a-tiny-state

Al Jazeera, 09.11.17: Beirut on edge as political deadlock fuels uncertainty http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/beirut-edge-political-deadlock-fuels-uncertainty-171109094017651.html

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