Saudi Arabia has accused Iran and Lebanon of committing an “act of war” against the Gulf Kingdom after a missile heading toward Riyadh was intercepted on Saturday.
The missile was aimed at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Airport, but ended up being harmless after the Gulf Kingdom shot it down. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, a faction supported by Iran in Yemen’s civil war, claimed responsibility for the missile.
“Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps,” Saudi Foreign Minister Abdel Jubair told CNN.
Thamer al-Sabhan, the Gulf Kingdom’s Persian Gulf Affairs Minister, told a state news outlet that they’re considering the failed missile strike as Lebanon declaring war on the Gulf Kingdom.
“Lebanon is kidnapped by the militias of Hezbollah and behind it is Iran,” said al-Sabhan.
He did not elaborate on any action that Saudi Arabia plans to take against Lebanon, but he warned Lebanon that they “must all know these risks and work to fix matters before they reach the point of no return.”
Iran is denying the accusations, claiming that the Houthis acted on their own. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed Saudi Arabia for the death and destruction occurring in Yemen.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri announced on Saturday that he was stepping down, a move that shocked even his aides. Hariri claimed his resignation was due to Hezbollah plans to assassinate him; Hezbollah is accusing Saudi Arabia of strong-arming Hariri into his resignation.
