Lebanon's Interior Minister Launches Severe Attack on Iran's Supreme Leader

The airstrikes by the Saudi-led Arab coalition against the Houthis in Yemen and the recent tensions between Tehran and Riyadh are impacting the situation in Lebanon, which is already suffering from severe divisions among its groups and factions. Nihad al-Mashnouq, Lebanon's Interior Minister, harshly criticized Iran and Ayatollah Khamenei during a ceremony in Beirut on Tuesday evening, praising Saudi Arabia in contrast. The Lebanese Minister described Saudi Arabia's attacks on Yemen as an effort to liberate the entire Arab world from Iran's dominance over its dignity and destiny. He also stated that those who promised Saudi Arabia defeat and humiliation would themselves be humiliated, as they continue to pursue a policy of aggression, exclusion of others, and interference in legitimate governments. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, in unprecedented remarks against Saudi Arabia, referred to the military operations of the kingdom and its allies against the Shia Houthis in Yemen, saying that 'the Saudis will certainly be humiliated.' The website of the Supreme Leader's office published a video and text of his remarks made two days earlier during a meeting with several 'mourners' who spoke against Saudi Arabia, titled 'I warn the Saudis.' The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have long had a fierce rivalry over various regional issues. For instance, Iran supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Saudi Arabia supports his downfall; Tehran also backs the Shia Houthi militants in Yemen, who have overthrown the government of Saudi Arabia's neighbor. The United States, which had not intervened in favor of the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi in Yemen until the Houthis' takeover, announced its support for the Saudi-led coalition's military operations in support of Mr. Hadi after they began.