Hariri says Lebanon will never be an 'Iranian province'
BEIRUT - Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri said on Sunday Lebanon would never be an "Iranian province" hostile to Saudi Arabia, and attacked Shi'ite Hezbollah's role in the Syrian war in a speech reflecting regional tensions.
The former prime minister was speaking in Beirut on the 11th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik al-Hariri. It was only his third visit to the country since the Hezbollah-dominated March 8 alliance toppled his cabinet in 2011.
"We will not allow anyone to pull Lebanon to the camp of hostility towards Saudi Arabia and its Arab brothers. Lebanon will not be, under any circumstances, an Iranian province. We are Arabs, and Arabs we shall remain," said Hariri, who is backed by Saudi Arabia.
