Saudi Arabia Orders Its Citizens Out of Lebanon, Raising Fears of War
But even before the current crisis, fears were building in Lebanon
that Israel — which shares Saudi Arabia’s goal of rolling back Iranian power — would instigate another war against Hezbollah to curtail the increased power, influence and weaponry the Lebanese group has accumulated while playing a decisive role in the war in neighboring Syria.
While analysts said a war was unlikely — because Saudi Arabia was not capable of waging one and Israel did not want one now — they worried
that with so many active conflicts in the region, any Saudi actions that raised the temperature increased the risk of an accidental conflagration.
Several Israeli officials seized on Mr. Hariri’s resignation — which he attributed to Iranian interference — as proof
that Hezbollah, Iran and the Lebanese government were one and the same.
At the same time, we have to be very cautious to prevent an unnecessary escalation in the region.”
Daniel B. Shapiro, a former United States ambassador to Israel, said more bluntly
that it was one thing for Israel to see eye to eye with Saudi Arabia about who their adversaries were, “but it’s another to let a young, impulsive leader set the pace, when he won’t have to do all the fighting.”
Adding to the confusion, no one professes to understand Saudi Arabia’s logic or goals in Lebanon.
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Saudi Arabia ordered its citizens to leave Lebanon on Thursday, escalating a bewildering crisis between the two Arab nations
and raising fears that it could lead to an economic crisis or even war.
Despite the worries, analysts, officials and diplomats said
that although they were not privy to the thinking of the Saudi crown prince, it was far-fetched that Saudi Arabia would launch a military action against Lebanon, since it is already overstretched in a war it started two years ago against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.