Saudi FM: Hezbollah’s control over Lebanon is the cause of the problems
Hezbollah’s intent on imposing its authority over Lebanon, according to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, is the source of the issues.
The Saudi foreign minister voiced his dissatisfaction with the lack of meaningful outcomes in the Beirut port bombing.
Any help given to Lebanon, according to Prince Faisal bin Farhan, is conditional on changes.
On Tuesday, at the request of France and under the auspices of the United Nations, a video conference of donor nations for Lebanon was conducted. It’s the third meeting since the explosion at Beirut’s harbor.
President Joe Biden of the United States has promised an additional $100 million in humanitarian help to Lebanon.
According to the French president, the conference raised more than 370 million dollars in helping to fulfill Lebanon’s humanitarian needs.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the Lebanese people in times of crisis and adversity. He stated that the Kingdom was one of the first countries to assist Lebanon following the explosion.
He also stated that the Kingdom will continue to contribute to Lebanon’s reconstruction, adding that the country is having difficulty creating an “effective” administration.
He emphasized that the “primary reason” for Lebanon’s difficulties is “Hezbollah’s determination on imposing its hegemony on the Lebanese state.”
“We are worried that the investigations into the Beirut port explosion have yet to produce any meaningful findings,” he said.
He emphasized that any help is given to the present or future Lebanese government “requires substantial and real changes, as well as ensuring that the money reaches its intended beneficiaries and preventing any system that allows the corrupt to dictate the fate of the country.”
On August 4, 2020, a fire broke out at the port of Beirut, followed by a massive explosion at six and a half minutes (15:00 GMT), whose echoes could be heard on the island of Cyprus, causing massive damage to the port and adjacent neighborhoods, impacting the majority of the city and suburbs.
It was blamed on 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port’s Crossing No. 12 since 2014.
