Lebanon is celebrating its Independence Day with a military parade attended by President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri who resigned from Saudi Arabia earlier this month in a move that stunned the country.
Wednesday's parade comes hours after Hariri returned to Lebanon after a three-week absence that was described by Lebanese officials as forced upon him by his Saudi allies.
The resignation of Hariri prompted a crisis in Lebanon and set off international efforts to prevent the upending of the country's delicate sectarian-based political order.
Hariri declared his resignation on Nov. 4 in a televised speech from Saudi Arabia, in which he said he was protesting meddling in Arab affairs by Iran and its Lebanese ally. Hizbullah is a partner in the coalition government formed by Hariri a year ago.