Ex-Lebanon PM slams Hezbollah over Saudi comments

Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Saad Hariri yesterday criticised Hezbollah for accusing Saudi Arabia of spreading extremism and terrorist ideologies in the region.

Earlier on Monday, Hezbollah Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah accused Riyadh of exporting Wahhabi extremist ideologies and supporting terrorists who carried out thousands of suicide operations in Iraq and Syria.

Nasrallah also slammed the Gulf kingdom for waging a seven-year war against the oppressed people of Yemen, killing children and women and destroying the country.

This came after Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz called on Lebanon to stand up to Hezbollah.

Responding to Nasrallah’s comment, Hariri said Saudi Arabia and all Arab Gulf states had embraced the Lebanese people and provided them with job opportunities.

“The one who threatens the Lebanese with their livelihood, stability and progress, is the one who wants the state of Lebanon to remain hostage to the state of Iran and its extensions in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon,” referring to Hezbollah.

“I know you [Hassan Nasrallah] will not back down from the methods of provocation and insults to the Arab Gulf states, but everyone knows that history will not be merciful to a party that sells its Arabism and the stability of its homeland and the interests of its people in return for a handful of partnership in the region’s wars,” he added.

READ: Lebanese government distances itself from Hezbollah criticism of Saudi Arabia