Lebanon FM skips Arab League summit on Iran

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil on Sunday was conspicuous by his absence at an emergency Arab League summit, which Saudi Arabia has called to discuss "confronting" Iran and Hezbollah.

Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo, but a Lebanese Foreign Ministry source told the French news agency that Bassil would not be among them.  

"This morning, a decision was taken that Lebanon would be presented by Antoine Azzam, the permanent representative to the Arab League," the source said, adding "Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil will not be present." 

Reuters also quoted a "senior Lebanese official" as saying Saturday that Bassil, anticipating confrontation at the Cairo meeting, would not go to Egypt.

Bassil has been shuttling across Europe to mobilize support for the return of Prime Minister Saad Hariri whose surprise resignation in Saudi Arabia has plunged the country into political turmoil. 

Sources close to Hariri say he has been forced to step down for “refusing to confront Hezbollah” as demanded by Saudi leaders. 

SS