beirut saudi arabia open new front regional proxy war iran threaten tehran powerful ally hezbollah home country lebanon try regain upper hand iranian power win iraq syria riyadh bogged war iran-allied group yemen new saudi approach could bring last political economic turmoil country tehran appear ascendant resignation saturday saudi-allied lebanese prime minister saad al-hariri announce riyadh blame iran hezbollah see many first step unprecedented saudi intervention lebanese politics saudis appear decide best way confront iran start lebanon european diplomat say riyadh blame hezbollah resignation lebanon preeminent sunni politician accuse hijack lebanese politics saudi arabia also widen blame lebanon whole say declare war kingdom saudi minister make near impossible demand lebanese act group major part lebanon political fabric far powerful weak state guerrilla army gun national military coincide major anti-corruption purge top saudis hariri shock announcement give rise suggestions hezbollah others saudi business interest embroil probe force resign saudi arabia hariri ally deny assertions hariri house arrest say hand force hezbollah interventions arab countries service iran saudi foreign minister adel jubeir say hezbollah call shots hariri government include two hezbollah minister form last year political deal make michel aoun hezbollah ally head state hezbollah ally struggle form government without hariri bless leave lebanon protract crisis could eventually stir sunni-shi ite tensions though sign yet side urge calm announce resignation hariri cite assassination plot slam iran hezbollah sow strife try kidnap lebanon away arab world declaration come surprise even hariri aid clear come next saudi-backed efforts weaken hezbollah lebanon fail badly decade ago end bout sunni-shi ite fight streets beirut underline hezbollah military dominance regional struggle move elsewhere recent years notably neighbor syria years saudi investment rebel group fight president bashar al-assad fail withstand direct military intervention iran hezbollah iraq tehran-backed militias iranian commanders often seem powerful u.s.-backed iraqi military recently operation retake kirkuk kurdish force embolden iran top iranian official ali akbar velayati trumpet regional alliance success beirut last friday declare victories iraq syria lebanon statement media meet hariri see major provocation regional sunni powerhouse saudi arabia hariri leave saudi arabia immediately afterwards cancel previously schedule engagements catch even close advisors guard next day declaration first broadcast saudi-owned media regional standoff flare gulf hours late iran-allied group fire ballistic missile riyadh yemen saudi arabia say launch hezbollah hezbollah respond accusation neither hezbollah lebanese government respond tuesday saudi accusation voice gulf affairs minister thamer al-sabhan top aide crown prince mohammed bin salman lebanon hezbollah declare war lebanese government deal government declare war saudi arabia lebanese must realize dangers work resolve issue reach point return say interview al-arabiya tv crown prince mohammed tell reuters last month war yemen would continue prevent iran-allied houthi movement become another hezbollah saudi border hezbollah establish iran revolutionary guard 1982 fight israeli troop lebanon last major war israel 2006 since hezbollah grow strong sabhan vow hezbollah would force back cave southern lebanon saudi military action lebanon air strike would come major surprise political paralysis tension however big threat already stagnant economy could derail next year parliamentary elections lebanon first since 2009. policymakers scramble calm concern financial stability heavily indebted state say lebanese pound peg dollar rate 20 years stable hariri spearhead efforts garner international aid help lebanon deal strain host 1.5 million syrian refugees quarter population leaders side say escalation hezbollah hariri future movement work contain sunni-shi ite tensions war neighbor syria hezbollah leader sayyed hassan nasrallah call calm patience face hariri resignation okab sakr member hariri future movement note protest solidarity hariri cancel avoid trouble sabhan saudi minister call real sanction alliances find fundamental solution cancerous disease say hezbollah disarm keep government hariri thrust politics 2005 assassination father rafik al-hariri lead years political struggle hezbollah lebanon saudi-backed march 14 coalition fail make progress toward hezbollah disarmament demand u.n. resolutions echo saudi position unite state also take new measure target hezbollah recent weeks president donald trump take tough stance toward iran offer bounty two hezbollah officials house representatives back new sanction target entities find support saudi reopen lebanon front struggle iran