Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has stepped down on Saturday, blaming Iran’s growing control over his country as the reason. He told the nation in his radio broadcasted resignation that he has also received death threats, reminding the nation his father Rafiq was assassinated while serving as prime minister in 2005.

The outgoing prime minister issued a call to the international community to act towards halting Iran’s influence.

In his response to Hariri’ resignation, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated, “The resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and his remarks are a wake-up call to the international community to take action against the Iranian aggression that is trying to turn Syria into a second Lebanon. This aggression endangers not only Israel but the entire Middle East. The international community needs to unite and confront this aggression.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)