The political crisis in Lebanon has taken an unexpected twist after the country’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri put his resignation on hold. RT looks into some three weeks of the top politician’s battle for power, which may destabilize the Middle Eastern country.
Hariri resigned on November 4, accusing Iran and Hezbollah of a “desire to destroy the Arab world.” His decision triggered a war of words in the region as countries stated blaming each other for Hariri’s move in the following three weeks.
Hussein Sheikh al-Islam, an aide to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khameni, directly accused US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of being behind the Lebanese crisis. In the meantime, the Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan claimed that Hariri’s security had “confirmed information” about the assassination plot against him.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also used Hariri's resignation as a rallying cry against Iran. “His words are a wake-up call to the international community to take action against Iranian aggression,” he said.
However, on Wednesday, Hariri made an unforeseen announcement – he decided to put his resignation on hold after consulting the president. “I am staying with you…” he said to hundreds of people gathered outside his house in central Beirut.
READ MORE: Lebanon’s PM returns to Beirut after abrupt resignation while in Saudi Arabia
Watch the timeline of Hariri’s resignation drama in a report from RT’s Maria Finoshina.