Tillerson Warns Regional Countries Against Using Lebanon for Proxy Wars

Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated in a statement on Friday, November 10, that Washington strongly supports the independence and national sovereignty of Lebanon and warned that Lebanon should not become a battleground for proxy wars of regional countries. The U.S. Secretary of State also emphasized in a conversation with reporters that although the arrests in Saudi Arabia as part of the anti-corruption campaign are not examples of mass detentions, these actions are concerning and one must wait for the situation to clarify. According to Reuters, Tillerson, who is in East Asia with President Donald Trump, made these remarks after discussions with Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister. Tillerson also mentioned that al-Jubeir assured him that Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, resigned of his own will. Hariri resigned on Saturday, November 4, criticizing Iran's interference and Hezbollah's involvement in Arab affairs, stating that his life was in 'danger.' Tillerson stressed that the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon and supports the legitimate government of Lebanon. He stated: 'If he wants to resign, as far as I know, he must return to Lebanon and do so legally. I am very hopeful that if he intends to do so, he will do it so that the Lebanese government can function properly.' Hariri is currently in an ambiguous situation in Saudi Arabia, and Reuters reported on Thursday, citing two senior Lebanese officials, a politician close to Hariri, and another informed source, that Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia 'against his will.' In his statement regarding Lebanon, Tillerson said: 'The United States firmly supports the national sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Lebanon and its political institutions. The United States also calls on all parties, whether in Lebanon or outside the country, to respect the integrity and independence of Lebanon's legitimate national institutions, including the government and armed forces of Lebanon.' Tillerson emphasized: 'In this context, we respect Saad Hariri as a serious partner of the United States.' He also stated that the U.S. strongly supports Lebanon's stability and opposes any actions that threaten the stability of this country. The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that no foreign forces, militias, or other elements have legitimacy in Lebanon, and the security forces of the Lebanese government and the army are the only legitimate force for ensuring Lebanon's security. Tillerson further warned all forces, whether inside Lebanon or outside it, that 'Lebanon should not become their battleground' and destabilize the country for their purposes. Tillerson also mentioned on Friday that al-Jubeir spoke and he does not believe that the recent arrests in the country are examples of mass detentions. Reports indicate that as part of the anti-corruption campaign in Saudi Arabia, at least hundreds of individuals, including several members of the royal family and former ministers, have been arrested. The U.S. Secretary of State clarified that based on this conversation, he can say that these actions were taken in good faith, but how much they will cause disorder remains to be seen. The current situation is somewhat ambiguous. He added: 'My impression is that these actions are not considered arrests but rather they are presenting evidence of violations to see if there is a willingness to reform.' The U.S. Secretary of State also emphasized that this issue is somewhat concerning until the handling of certain individuals becomes clearer. Reports indicate that dozens of members of the royal family and high-ranking officials in Saudi Arabia have been arrested, but the most notable detainee is Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, with a fortune of $18.7 billion. He is a major shareholder in companies such as Apple and Citigroup. The Saudi stock market continued its decline on Wednesday, which is said to be due to concerns about the impact of these arrests. On Tuesday, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, stated that the arrests would not harm related companies. The Crown Prince has promised to implement reforms in the political, social, economic, and cultural structures of the country based on a program known as 'Vision 2030' and to change some of the highly conservative and strict laws and regulations in Saudi Arabia. The New York Times reported that nearly 500 individuals have been arrested so far, most of whom are being held in the 'most luxurious prison in the world,' the Ritz-Carlton hotel located in the diplomatic area of Riyadh.