beirut european union unite state wednesday reaffirm support lebanon resignation prime minister strike sharp contrast saudi arabia accuse beirut declare war shi ite group hezbollah statements support eu ambassadors lebanon unite state set different tone sunni gulf ally saudi arabia lump lebanon together iran-backed lebanese group hezbollah party hostile lebanon pitch deep crisis since saudi-allied saad al-hariri resign saturday speech deliver saudi arabia accuse hezbollah iran sow strife arab world cite fear assassination circumstances surround hariri sudden resignation give rise wide speculation catch high-level anti-corruption purge saudi arabia family make fortune coerce resign saudi arabia deny along report put hariri house arrest say quit hezbollah call shots government move pull lebanon back forefront regional struggle sunni monarchy saudi arabia shi ite islamist government iran rivalry also sweep syria iraq bahrain yemen plunge lebanon political crisis hit market confidence heavily indebted lebanese state sell lebanese bond continue third day wednesday hit low ever level u.s. ambassador lebanon say wednesday unite state remain commit stable secure democratic prosperous lebanon meet lebanese army commander general joseph aoun u.s. embassy statement say meet announce u.s. government reimbursement 42.9 million border operations conduct lebanese army major recipient u.s. military aid unite state classify hezbollah terrorist group even support weak lebanese state draw line two long-standing policy tuesday u.s. state department say lebanon strong u.s. partner unite state strongly support legitimate institutions lebanese state spokeswoman heather nauert say expect members international community respect fully institutions sovereignty political independence lebanon say statement eu ambassadors lebanon say reaffirm strong support continue unity stability sovereignty security lebanon people lebanon also receive significant western aid help cope strain host 1.5 million syrian refugees equivalent around quarter population hezbollah set iranian revolutionary guard 1982 powerful group lebanon major sway government guerrilla army outguns national military group role grow beyond lebanon recent years fighters provide critical support president bashar al-assad syrian civil war neither hezbollah lebanese government respond accusations make saudi gulf affairs minister thamer al-sabhan lebanon hezbollah declare war kingdom president michel aoun hezbollah ally take office last year refuse accept hariri resignation say first want return lebanon meet person understand reason aoun say lebanon security economy stable presidency still view hariri prime minister lebanese media report parliament speaker nabih berri say coalition government lead hariri still stand lebanese policymakers bankers say concern lebanese pound peg u.s. dollar rate two decades thank record level foreign currency reserve bank source say demand usual convert lebanese pound save dollars bank open monday say unexpected minimal level lebanon june 2020 bond april 2020 issue fell low ever level wednesday yield could come new prime minister find quickly government get back business appear likely short term say carmen altenkirch emerge market sovereign analyst axa investment managers byblos bank chief economist nassib ghobril say bad case saw pressure actual peg lebanese pound u.s. dollar take severe shock magnitude former prime minister rafik al-hariri assassination 2005 2006 israeli war put real pressure currency peg eu u.s. affirm lebanon support diverge saudi