Shaheen Urges Saudi Arabia To Curb Rhetoric Amid Escalating Tensions with Lebanon

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement in light of the growing crisis in Lebanon:

“I’m very concerned by Saudi Arabia and Iran’s attempts to drag Lebanon into their long-standing battle for influence. This is a dangerous game that could have devastating consequences. I urge all actors involved to cease the unhelpful rhetoric of war and present the circumstances behind the sudden resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri as soon as possible,” said Senator Shaheen. “I am hopeful that a diplomatic solution can be found to this crisis and urge the White House to allow the State Department to lead on the Administration’s engagement efforts so that we can respond appropriately to this fast-changing situation.”

Senator Shaheen is member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. She is the lead Democrat on the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development and has led multiple bipartisan efforts to impose sanctions on the Lebanese terrorist group Hizballah; most recently, as sponsor of the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017.