Maduro Congratulates Lebanon on 74th Anniversary of Independence Amid Lebanon's Political Hoopla

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Wednesday congratulated Lebanon on its 74th anniversary of independence from French colonial rule.

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Through a statement released by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, he highlighted "the courage of all those heroes who resisted European colonial rule and raised their united voices for obtaining their full freedom and sovereignty."

He added that it was late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s “whose legacy of struggle for justice and peace in the Arab world became a doctrine of love and brotherhood that, even today, Venezuelans are upholding.”

Maduro also addressed the many people of Lebanese descent who have migrated to Venezuela.

Independence day celebrations in Lebanon took place amid the country’s ongoing political uncertainty.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri participated in the commemorations, appearing in the country for the first time since his surprise resignation from his post on Nov. 4, which was announced in a broadcast from Saudi Arabia.

However, on Wednesday, the leader backtracked on his mysterious resignation, a move that came at the request of President Michel Aoun, and that is hoped to defuse a crisis that pitted regional hegemon Saudi Arabia against world opinion.

In his resignation speech, Hariri had cited fear of assassination and attacked Iran along with Hezbollah for “sowing strife” in the Arab world. However, his announcement Wednesday steered away from these proclamations.

Wednesday’s independence day celebrations, which saw a military parade course through the streets of Beirut, were significant not only politically, but also because they came months after the Army launched the “Fajr al-Joroud” offensive, which liberated the northeastern border towns of Al-Qaa and Ras Baalbeck from the Islamic State group.