Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri announced Tuesday that he will resign after two weeks of protests against the country's ruling elite, reports Al Jazeera.
Why it matters: Hariri's resignation was a key demand of the protest movement, which has upended the country.
- Hariri's resignation also defies the Iranian-linked Shia group Hezbollah, "whose leader Hassan Nasrallah has twice said he was against such a step, citing the risk of a dangerous void," writes Al Jazeera.
The big picture: The protests and Hariri's resignation come almost 30 years after a deadly civil war ended in Lebanon.
- The country often struggles to balance the power of its various religious and ethnic groups.
- Hariri's resignation could leave a power vacuum as the groups may try to fight for the prime ministership.
Worth noting: Hariri has previously resigned in 2017 — only to later rescind his decision, per Reuters.
- His resignation was announced from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a period of time when he was outside of Lebanon for weeks, leading some to believe that his decision was influenced by the Saudis.
What's next: Protesters have been demanding new elections, but it's not yet clear when those would be held.
Go deeper: WhatsApp tax sparks calls for "fall of regime" in Lebanon
