Saudi Arabia denies France’s claims it detained Lebanon Hariri

Saudi Arabia yesterday denied statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron in which he claimed the Kingdom held Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri captive in November.

Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed official source as saying that the French president’s remarks during his interview with French BFM TV channel were “untrue”.

The source explained that the Kingdom “has been and continues to support Lebanon’s stability and security as well as supporting Prime Minister Hariri by all means,” adding that “all evidence confirms that the one destabilising Lebanon and the region is Iran and its tools including Hezbollah which was involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the killing of French citizens in Lebanon”.

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“The Kingdom is looking forward to working with French President Macron to confront the forces of chaos and destruction in the region, especially Iran and its affiliates,” the official said.

On 4 November 2017, Hariri announced his resignation during a visit to Saudi Arabia, saying in a televised address from Riyadh that he believed there was a plan to assassinate him.

Macron arrived in Riyadh days later in an unscheduled visit and Hariri then made a visit to Paris at the invitation of the French president.