After a sudden resignation over the weekend while visiting Saudi Arabia and claims of an assassination plot, there is mounting speculation about Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s status, with conflicting reports of where he is.
Hariri claimed an assassination plot against him by Iran and Hezbollah, which appears to have originated as a claim by a Saudi newspaper. This came amid Saudi officials claiming Lebanon had “declared war” against them.
But where is Hariri now? That’s not clear. After meeting with the Saudi king, he was reported in the Saudi media as having flown to the United Arab Emirates. Lebanese papers, however, suggest he never left Saudi Arabia, and is under effective house arrest there.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said that the house arrest report was “nonsense,” but appeared to give credence to the idea that he hadn’t gone to the United Arab Emirates, by saying he is “free to leave at any time.”
This echoes comments related to Yemen President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has been in Riyadh since February, and has even gone to the airport trying to leave, only to be rebuffed by Saudi officials, citing security concerns.
Saudis are getting rid off excess weight. In case of Hadi — one can feel sorry for him, as he actually resigned his presidency, but was mot allowed to. However, he is well provided for, there are worse things then being stuck in Saudi Arabia. Like being stuck in Aden in a war zone. As for Hariti, the playboy just did not understand that Saudi Arabia is changing and it will not continue to bankroll his career — a career of a provocator, who does not get it — Hezbollah saved Lebanon from being chopped up by Israel. Saudi Arabia bankrupted his business, and his better bet is to go to France, sell some of his pricey properties, and get out of politics. His brand of politics is well past the Sell By dare.