Saad Hariri returns to Beirut
After landing at the airport, he wanted to pay homage to his father Rafic's tomb. Today he will participate in the Independence Day Parade with Michel Aoun and Nabih Berri. His party meets in front of his home.
Beirut (AsiaNews) - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri returned last night to Beirut after nearly three weeks of absence and the announcement of his resignation while on Saudi Arabia.
Hariri was welcomed at the airport by security personnel and first wanted to pay homage at the grave of his father, Rafic, killed in an attack in 2005.
In announcing his resignation from Riyadh last November 4, Hariri had made obscure allusions to possible attacks on his person and accused Iran and the Hezbollah party of throwing the region into disarray, destabilizing Lebanon.
President Michel Aoun refused to accept his resignation until he returned to the country and accused Saudi Arabia of seizing the premier. France has intervened in the situation of high tension, with Tehran's criticism of Riyadh and Israel's offer of cooperation to the Saudi kingdom against Iran and Hezbollah. Four days ago, Hariri left Riyadh to travel to Paris where he met with President Emmanuel Macron. Yesterday Hariri left Paris for Egypt, where he had an interview with President Abdelfattah Al-Sissi before reaching Beirut.
The premier has promised to explain his position. Meanwhile, his presence at the Parade for Independence Day in Lebanon is scheduled, along with President Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. His party, the Future Current, has called for a rally of supporters in front of Hariri's home today at 13am.
The premier’s return to Beirut distances somewhat the spectre of a possible political crisis in the land of cedars, which had only recently recovered some stability with Aoun's presidential election, but has not shelved the possibility of Lebanon being overwhelmed and absorbed in the regional conflict between Arabia Saudi and Iran.
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15/02/2024 10:59
