Saudi Arabia responds to Macron: ‘Your remarks untrue, we did not detain Hariri’

The Saudi Foreign Minister on Tuesday responded to comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

“His Excellency French President Macron had said in an interview with France’s BFM TV that Lebanese PM Saad Hariri was detained in Saudi Arabia. This is not true,” the ministry said on Twitter.

"The lack of stability in Lebanon and the region has been caused by Iran and its proxies, including the terrorist Hezbollah, the militia involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and the killing of French nationals in Lebanon," the statement added.

The Saudi foreign ministry also said Iran has extended its hand to terrorist militias, including Yemen’s Houthis, providing them with ballistic missiles targeting Saudi cities.

The ministry added: “We are looking forward to working with France’s Macron to confront forces of chaos and destruction in the region, mainly Iran and its proxies.”

The statement added that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has and will continue to support stability and security in Lebanon and to support the state of Prime Minister Saad Hariri through all means.