BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Soldiers are seen during a take over ceremony at the government palace where newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
![Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace on 20 December 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161220_2_20816064_17201760-scaled.jpg?w=395&h=264&ssl=1 "Lebanon’s Saad al-Hariri officially assumes premiership")
Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace on 20 December 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]
BEIRUT, LEBANON – DECEMBER 20: Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri attends the take over ceremony at the government palace where he formally assumed his prime ministerial responsibilities on December 20, 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon. ( Ratib Al Safadi – Anadolu Agency )
![Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161220_2_20816064_17201762-scaled.jpg?w=596&h=397&ssl=1 "Lebanon’s Saad al-Hariri officially assumes premiership")
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]
![Image of Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri on 20 December 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20161220_2_20816064_17201763-e1509810204661.jpg?w=596&h=397&ssl=1 "Lebanon’s Saad al-Hariri officially assumes premiership")
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri [Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency]