Wed Sep 25 08:15:07 UTC 2024: ## Former Lebanese PM Hariri Sparks Outrage With Tweet Suggesting Solidarity With Hezbollah

**Beirut, Lebanon:** Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has stirred up a virtual storm after a tweet, widely interpreted as calling for solidarity with Hezbollah, sparked outrage and accusations of hypocrisy.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim and son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, posted a message yesterday (September 24th) calling for “national solidarity” with the people of Lebanon, particularly in Hezbollah strongholds like the South, the Bekaa Valley, and the Dahya neighborhood.

The post was met with mixed reactions, with pro-Hezbollah users praising Hariri for advocating unity. However, many others, including those from the Gulf, condemned the tweet as a betrayal of his father’s legacy and a tacit endorsement of the group responsible for his assassination.

Critics pointed out that Hezbollah has long been accused of destabilizing Lebanon and exerting Iranian influence, with many associating the group with the assassination of Hariri’s father in 2005.

A 2020 tribunal found Hezbollah operative Salim Ayyash guilty of the assassination, but the verdict did not implicate Hezbollah leadership. Despite this, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah refused to comply with the tribunal’s order to arrest Ayyash.

The tweet sparked a wave of social media criticism, with users questioning Hariri’s motives and accusing him of prioritizing political expediency over justice for his father. Many reminded him of his previous condemnations of Hezbollah’s influence and his 2017 resignation as Prime Minister, which he attributed to the group’s power.

The controversy highlights the deep divisions within Lebanon, with the country struggling to navigate a complex political landscape characterized by sectarian tensions and the influence of regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia. Hariri’s tweet has reignited these tensions, potentially impacting the fragile political landscape and further polarizing the nation.

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