Lebanese prime minister Hariri resigns

BEIRUT (AA) – Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday announced his resignation, according to the official Lebanese news agency.

In a televised address from Saudi Arabia, Hariri criticized Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, accusing Tehran of planting “sedition” and meddling in Arab affairs.

“I tell Iran and its followers that they will lose,” he said. “The hands that send evil to the Arab states will be cut off and evil will go back to their people.”

Hariri said the atmosphere in Lebanon is quite similar to the period leading up to the assassination of his father, Rafiq Hariri, in 2005.

“I announce my resignation as a prime minister,” he said. “I’m confident that the will of the Lebanese is stronger and they will be able to defeat hegemony from inside and outside,” he said.

Hariri was appointed prime minister in late 2016, leading a 30-member government that included Hezbollah.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional arch foes. While Riyadh supports the Syrian opposition, Iran and Hezbollah are main backers of Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime.