Speaking in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Hassan Hanizadeh, while referring to Saudi Arabia’s recent moves against Lebanon which, with France mediation, led to the introduction of a new Riyadh Chargé d’Affaires in Beirut, said: Given that Saudi Arabia has lost its spiritual influence and popular base in Lebanon, it has recently taken several measures against that country under the pretext of the Lebanese minister of information criticizing the Saudi invasion of Yemen.

Saying that such measures were taken with the aim of putting pressure on the Mikati government and with the support of countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, he said: In recent weeks, those countries have created a political-economic crisis for Lebanon, which has apparently subsided through the mediation of the French president and the forced resignation of Mr. Qardahi; as a result, it seems that Saudi policies will move towards reducing political tensions with Lebanon.

The expert on West Asia affairs continued: Saudi Arabia was trying to show that it still has political influence in Lebanon, and with the approval of Mr. Qardahi’s resignation and the exercise of political dominance over the Lebanese government, it will naturally present itself as an important player in that country.

Saudi excuses

Referring to some of the US Democrats’ critical stances towards Saudi Arabia’s human rights, regional and domestic policies, Hanizadeh called the French president’s visit to promote Riyadh’s relations with Paris and create an umbrella of support for that country, and said: In such circumstances, Mr. Qardahi’s remarks, is not the main problem of Saudi Arabia with Lebanon, and although Saudi Arabia tried to put widespread political pressures on Beirut, his resignation will not resolve the issues between the two countries.

Explaining the difficult and complicated political-economic situation in Lebanon and escalation of its consequences on the livelihood of the Lebanese people after the Arab-Western political pressures, he added: The Saudi Foreign Minister had previously stated that the crisis is not with Lebanon, but in Lebanon, and that Lebanese politicians must do what is necessary to free Lebanon from the control of Hezbollah! And the situation in Lebanon must change in a way that return the country to a positive trend.

Hanizadeh continued: Western countries and some Arab countries are trying to use Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance as an excuse and put widespread economic pressure on Lebanon. In fact, their objective is to remove Hezbollah from the Lebanese political and security-military structure and to create lasting security for the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon. On the other hand, they want Hezbollah to be put under pressure by the Lebanese people and government.

The expert on West Asia affairs stated that escalation of Saudi pressure against Lebanon on the eve of the parliamentary elections has broader targets and that Hezbollah and the resistance in that country have been targeted, adding: The Saudis claim that Hezbollah has taken control of Lebanon; therefore, while trying to create crisis in that country, they seek to blame the Resistance and Hezbollah.

Hanizadeh also stressed that Hezbollah’s position and presence in the Lebanese social and political structure is undeniable and all political parties and groups in Lebanon, as well as other countries, recognize that Hezbollah has an influential role in the Lebanese political and security structure. Thus, although it seems that those pressures will contribute to the unstable economic situation in Lebanon, Hezbollah is still trying to help the people of that country, especially in the economic and livelihood areas, and maintain its position, while consciously dealing with those policies.

No economic opening by Saudi Arabia

Saying that the economic aid of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE to Lebanon has political aspect, he added: Saudi Arabia may seem to have ended the political tension with Lebanon, but if those conditions continue, it will not create an opening in the economic field. In fact, those countries are trying to keep Lebanon in an economic crisis with their aid drops, so that they can get more concessions from the Lebanese governments.

Emphasizing that Lebanon is currently experiencing a record-breaking economic crisis, the analyst of West Asia affairs said: The country has 85 billion dollars in foreign debt and with rising inflation and falling currency, the unemployment rate in the country has reached more than 40 percent. Lebanon now needs immediate 20 billion dollars in funding to be able to pass this stage temporarily. However, Saudi aid is a function of Riyadh’s policies in Beirut that is to say isolation of Hezbollah and the Axis of Resistance.

Referring to the consequences of such interventions in Lebanon, Hanizadeh continued: The more unstable the economic situation in Lebanon, the more the pressure on Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance will increase and will seriously damage them. But it should not be forgotten that Lebanon and its people are not alienated with such pressures, and they consider it a consequence of the conditions in the region, the consequences of the Coronavirus epidemic and lack of stable incomes for Lebanon. As a result, given such conditions, the situation in Lebanon will remain unstable and fragile.

He said: Financial aid to Lebanon will not solve the root of the country’s economic problems, and it seems that the country’s problems will continue. However, under such circumstances, the Islamic Resistance will continue its efforts with the aim of helping to resolve crises and improve situation of the people.

Hanizadeh referred to the joint statement of Saudi Arabia and France that weapons should be exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese government and said: Definitely the principled policy of the Hezbollah is to defend Lebanon’s territorial integrity against the Israeli regime. However, as the pressure on Hezbollah increases, the conditions for implementing this policy will become more difficult, but because this movement has a very valuable experience in state-building and participation in Lebanese politics, although such pressures will create problems for it from time to time, but does not mean that Hezbollah will leave the power structure.