beirut iran ally lebanon emerge even strong crisis trigger saudi arabia achieve little force saudis main lebanese ally prime minister saad al-hariri close tehran friends beirut saudi arabia aim hurt iran lebanon force hariri resignation nov. torpedo coalition deal iranian-backed hezbollah ally use influence sunni leader cause trouble shi ite group instead move backfire western state censure riyadh step fear would destabilize lebanon despite share concern regional role heavily arm hezbollah hariri revoke resignation tuesday draw line crisis cause announcement riyadh lebanese officials say put house arrest french intervention lead return home riyadh hariri deny crisis abate cause hezbollah grow military influence region saudi arabia determination counter iran seem likely bring trouble lebanon way sooner late hariri identify possible gulf arab sanction major risk lebanese economy analysts also see risk another war hezbollah old foe israel alarm group strength lebanon syria episode also leave big question lebanese politics long influence saudi arabia patron lebanese sunni community one senior lebanese politician say experience leave big scar hariri spiritual son saudi arabia easy normal relationship meet tuesday first time since resignation hariri government indirectly acknowledge saudi concern hezbollah role outside lebanon hariri behest reaffirm policy stay arab conflict top lebanese official say western pressure force saudi arabia retreat lebanon plan saudi move could rule restrain saudi go toward madness view western diplomat say saudi measure target lebanese economy genuine possibility point though international community would likely try influence tough sanction would think saudis understand international reaction lebanon pitch play alone players interest want see undermine diplomat say time international community patience unlimited hard protect lebanon indefinitely tangible progress roll back hezbollah hezbollah group allow keep weapons end lebanon 1975-90 civil war fight israeli force occupy southern lebanon militia source controversy lebanon since israeli withdrawal 2000. saudi back hariri lead lebanese political alliance confront group result hezbollah takeover beirut 2008 brief civil war hezbollah stature grow chaos sweep arab world 2011. back president bashar al-assad syria help war islamic state iraq role yemen conflict see main factor behind crisis lebanon saudi arabia accuse iran hezbollah military support iranian-allied houthis war saudi-led coalition hariri repeatedly flag yemen cause late crisis warn lebanon economy stake economy depend remittances expat workers particularly gulf threat inflows see risk system finance heavily indebted state hezbollah leader sayyed hassan nasrallah appear recalibrate rhetoric response crisis last month deny group fight yemen send weapons houthis fire rocket saudi arabia yemeni territory also indicate hezbollah could pull fighters iraq remark eve hariri return see appease source close hariri say hariri twice lead coalition governments include hezbollah despite enmity toward group five hezbollah members charge u.n.-backed tribunal 2005 assassination father rafik al-hariri hezbollah deny involvement hariri willingness compromise hezbollah factor behind saudi move draw criticism within sunni community status lebanon influential sunni put test parliamentary elections next year ashraf rifi hawkish sunni politician say way hariri reverse resignation farce surrender hezbollah project senior politician speak condition anonymity say hezbollah may offer hariri gesture regional role saw little prospect group fundamentally change course president michel aoun political ally hezbollah could pressure group little bite cool certain issue politician say lebanese saudi arabia still reason afraid livelihoods think time lebanese try disentangle saudi arabia cost lebanon lot revenues reduce hariri crisis mark unprecedented intervention lebanon even country long history foreign meddle also underline different priorities saudi arabia western ally lebanon major recipient aid help host 1.5 million syrian refugees last day hariri stay saudi arabia saudi crown prince mohammad bin salman summon meet keep wait hours delay departure france president emanuel macron wait senior politician top lebanese official say macron call saad find say senior politician add macron call crown prince mohammad tell expect hariri lunch western state want stability lebanon politician say need lebanon platform observe arab world invest lot civil war question syrian refugees lebanon emerge crisis iran top risk remain