Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Punishing Hezbollah Terrorists’ after Hariri Verdict

Gulf

August 18th, 7:17pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

A statue of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is seen near the site of the 2005 bombing that killed him on August 18, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon. (Getty Images)

The Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed on Tuesday the verdict announced by the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon that was looking into the 2005 assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The ministry said: “The Saudi government believes that the verdict revealed the truth and is the beginning of achieving justice by pursuing, arresting and punishing the perpetrators.” The court on Tuesday convicted a Hezbollah member in the 2005 Beirut assassination, which also killed 21 others. “The Saudi government by calling for punishing Hezbollah and its terrorist members, stresses the need to protect Lebanon, the region and world from the terrorist practices of this party, which is a proxy of the Iranian regime,” continued the ministry statement. It added that Hezbollah has been found complicit in terrorist crimes throughout the world, and the Hariri assassination “was but one of them and one that had the greatest impact on the security and stability of Lebanon” “The Kingdom is eager to see Lebanon enjoy security and peace by ending the phenomenon of the possession of arms outside the authority of the state,” it added. It called for strengthening the Lebanese state “for the sake of all Lebanese without exception.” “The brotherly Lebanese people deserve stability in their nation, development in their economy and security that eliminates terrorism,” it stressed.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2455631/saudi-arabia-calls-%E2%80%98punishing-hezbollah-terrorists%E2%80%99-after-hariri-verdict