Cairo: Bahrain’s foreign minister said on Sunday that Lebanon is under the “total control” of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, in a speech at an Arab League meeting called by Riyadh with support from the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait to discuss ways to confront Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, who the Arab allies say are interfering in their internal affairs.
“The Lebanese Republic, in spite of our relations with it as a brotherly Arab nation ... is under the total control of this terrorist party,” said Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, referring to Hezbollah.
Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Sunni monarchy Saudi Arabia and Shiite Islamist Iran over Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri’s surprise resignation and after an escalation in Yemen’s conflict.
Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said that remaining silent over Iran’s outrageous attacks, perpetrated by its agents in the region, does not mean Arab capitals will not remain safe from ballistic missiles. “Al Houthis fired 80 missiles at my country. Saudi Arabia will not stand idly in the face of such blatant aggression, and will not hesitate to defend its national security, and to preserve the security and safety of its people,” Al Jubeir said.
Hariri, a long-time Saudi ally, resigned on November 4 in an announcement made from Riyadh. Hariri cited fear of assassination and accused Iran and Hezbollah of spreading strife in the Arab world.
Ahmad Abu Al Geit, Secretary General of Arab League, said missiles fired by Al Houthis at Saudi Arabia were Iranian. “By supplying Al Houthis with missiles, Tehran sends a message that all Arab capitals are targets,” Abu Al Geit said.
“Iranian threats are exceeding all limits, pushing the region into a dangerous abyss. Arab countries cherish their sovereignty and are able to defend their stability and security and would never accept to live under fear or intimidation,” he added.
He emphasised Iran’s ballistic missile programme poses a grave threat to the region,” Abu Al Gheit emphasised.
Hezbollah, both a military force and a political movement, is part of a Lebanese government made up of rival factions, and an ally of Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
Aoun had accused Saudi Arabia of holding Hariri hostage. Saudi Arabia and Hariri both denied those accusations.
Hossam Zaki, Arab League Assistant Secretary, told Asharq al Awsat newspaper in an interview that “what Iran is doing against some Arab countries calls for taking more than one measure to stop these violations, interferences and threats, which are carried out through many various means”.
“Stopping them requires a joint Arab policy.” He said the meeting would send a “strong message” for Iran to step back from its current policies.
Egypt’s state-owned newspaper Al Ahram cited an Arab diplomatic source saying the meeting may refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
Hariri flew to France and met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia also accuses Hezbollah of a role in the launching of a missile at Riyadh from Yemen this month. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman said Iran’s supply of rockets to Al Houthi militias was an act of “direct military aggression”.
