Mustaqbal Movment chief and Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised on Thursday the “wise and courageous decision” taken by Saudi King Salman to intervene militarily in Yemen as Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat feared that it would affect the interest of Lebanese in the Gulf.

“The Iranian interference in Sanaa compelled an Arab reaction,” Hariri said in comments to the al-Arabiya Arabic language television station.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks Wednesday in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the “dangers” that are threatening the Middle East region and means to strengthen moderation, his press office said.

“The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour and a half, tackled the situation in the Middle East. It also focused on the need to unify efforts to deal with the risks threatening the region and strengthen the moderate majority in the Arab and Muslim worlds,” the office said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil had intended to travel to Saudi Arabia over the weekend but the visit was canceled the last minute over Riyadh's role in pushing for the adoption of a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council that condemns Hizbullah, sources said.

Bassil, a Free Patriotic Movement official, denied on Monday that he visited Riyadh to meet with Saudi officials or possibly al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal allegedly reiterated to al-Mustaqbal Movement chief and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri his complete rejection to allow Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to reach the Baabda Palace.

Sources told As Safir newspaper published on Tuesday that Faisal's comments came during a meeting with Hariri in presence of Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz shortly after the Lebanese official's visit to Lebanon in February.

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri stressed that the March 14, 2005 “independence intifada” will be remembered as a day when the Lebanese achieved a victory in the name of “their freedom, sovereignty, and national dignity,” while remarking that “protecting tyranny is not the right way to combat terrorism.”

He said in a statement on the tenth anniversary of the uprising: “Dragging Lebanon towards neighboring civil wars is the easiest way to ruin the lives of the Lebanese, who will not accept to become a part of the Iranian empire.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has denied that he proposed his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to be appointed army chief.

“I am always criticized over my alleged intentions and thoughts,” Aoun told al-Akhbar newspaper in the second part of an interview published on Wednesday. “I never said I wanted him (Roukoz) army commander. Journalists said so.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has promised to hold accountable corrupt officials if he were elected a president, denying that he has made certain political concessions and stressing that he is part of the resistance axis against jihadists and Israel.

“If I were elected president, I would deploy the accountability system and consolidate judicial inspection,” Aoun told al-Akhbar newspaper in a lengthy interview published on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has said that the recent successes of the Lebanese army against terrorists are due to the military aid to Lebanon and the support it is getting from across the political spectrum.

“The continued successes of the Lebanese army recently go back to military aid and the huge support that the political parties and citizens are providing it with,” Salam was quoted by An Nahar daily as telling his visitors.

Head of al-Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri arrived in Cairo for talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Grand Imam of al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb.

Hariri met with Sisi at Ittihadiya palace, a statement issued by the ex-PM's press office said.

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri is expected to travel to the Egyptian capital Cairo on Saturday, reported the Kuwait daily al-Anbaa on Saturday.

Hariri's press office announced that he is scheduled to meet with with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday.