Report: Hariri's Resignation Comes 'in View of Regional Situation'

Prime Minister Saad Hariri's “shock” resignation “was not driven” by the situation in Lebanon but came “within the framework of the conflicts in the region,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

On the dimensions of the resignation, well-informed Lebanese sources close to Arab and Gulf circles said that “Hariri's sudden resignation does not come within the context of the situation in Lebanon but comes in the context of the conflicts in the region and conflicts in the regimes,” the daily quoted the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“An evidence to the above was an announcement made by the March 8 alliance one day earlier before the PM's resignation where they reiterated commitment to the government,” they said.

“Similarly the March 14 alliance has made no stance relating to a crisis or an intention on the Premier's part to resign,” they explained.

The Premier's resignation coincided with a new Saudi situation announced by the Saudi government.

Saudi Arabia arrested 10 princes and dozens of former government ministers on Saturday, in a major purge immediately after an anti-corruption commission was established.

The powerful heads of the SaudiNational Guard, an elite internal security force, and the navy were replaced in a series of high-profile sackings that sent shock waves in the kingdom.

The sources added that Premier's resignation coincided with developments in the region, notably the rising level of the Saudi-Iranian conflict and the US sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards in Iran and Hizbullah in Lebanon.

All this in parallel to Israeli military maneuvers in south Lebanon coinciding with the threats of Israeli officials to Lebanon, and specifically to Hizbullah, they said.

Hariri announced his resignation on Saturday, citing Iran's "grip" on the country and threats to his life.

"I announce my resignation from the post of prime minister," Hariri said in a speech broadcast from Saudi Arabia by the Al-Arabiya news network.

"I felt what was being covertly plotted to target my life," he said.

"Iran has a grip on the fate of the region's countries... Hizbullah is Iran's arm not just in Lebanon but in other Arab countries too," Hariri said.

He accused Tehran of "sowing discord among the children of the same nation and creating a state within the state... to the extent that it gets the final say on how Lebanon's affairs are run"