World War 3? US and EU back Lebanon amid row with Saudi Arabia – Gulf CATASTROPHE feared
THE European Union has echoed US support for Lebanon following the resignation of prime minister Saad al-Hariri while Saudi Arabia’s claim that Beirut has declared war threatens strained ties in the Middle East.
By WILL KIRBY
Express.co.uk
Wed, Nov 8, 2017
EU ambassadors to Lebanon said they reaffirmed “their strong support for the continued unity, stability, sovereignty, and security of Lebanon and its people”.
They also called “on all sides to pursue constructive dialogue and to build on the work achieved in the last 11 months towards strengthening Lebanon’s institutions and preparing parliamentary elections in early 2018, in adherence with the Constitution”.
On Tuesday, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a declaration of support to Lebanon amid growing unrest in the Middle East.
She said: “The United States strongly supports the legitimate institutions in the Lebanese state.
“We expect all members of the international community to respect fully those institutions and the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.”
The EU and US support comes after Saudi Arabia accused the Middle Eastern country of declaring war following “aggression” against the kingdom by Shia group Hezbollah.
Saudi Gulf affairs minister Thamer al-Sabhan said the Iran-backed Lebanese group had attacked his country.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, he said the Lebanese administration would now be “dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia”.
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