Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation during a trip to Saudi Arabia is the latest bombshell in a string of recent events that place Lebanon in the middle of the power play between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. The events have escalated the tussle between the two major rivals in the region and could leave Lebanon facing possible sanctions or further conflict.

SAUDI ARABIA: At Saudi Arabia’s request, the Arab League will hold an “extraordinary meeting” this week to discuss “violations” by Iran in the region.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in his first televised interview since he announced his controversial resignation, said Sunday he will return to his country “very soon.” Hariri, who appeared tired and held back tears at one point, denied again that Saudi Arabia is holding him against his will. He said he stepped down to create a “positive shock” and draw attention to the danger of siding with Iran in regional conflicts. Hariri’s resignation, made during a trip to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 4, sparked a political crisis involving Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday deemed the Lebanese prime minister’s resignation last week unconstitutional, saying Saudi Arabia forced him to step down. Nasrallah said he was certain Saudi Arabia coerced Saad Hariri to resign and prevented him from returning to Lebanon. Hariri on Saturday resigned during a televised statement in Saudi Arabia, citing concerns of assassination attempts against him. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to accept Hariri’s resignation until he returns to the country and explains his reasons.

Saudi Arabia ordered all of its citizens to leave Lebanon on Thursday amid escalating tension between the two nations over Iranian influence. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned earlier this week while on a trip to Saudi Arabia. Since then, Hariri has not returned to Lebanon, and there are questions about whether he is free to do so. Friends in Hariri’s political party, which has historically aligned with Saudi Arabia, demanded his return Thursday.

RUSSIA: Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, whose meetings with Donald Trump Jr. were dissected ad nauseum this summer, met before and after those meetings with Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson.

SAUDI ARABIA: A series of weekend events centered in Riyadh, the capital, may further raise tension in a fractured Middle East. In a midnight sweep Saturday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered arrests of top officials and clerics and barred all members of the royal family from leaving the country. Billed as an anti-corruption crackdown, the detentions effectively consolidate power for the 32-year-old heir apparent to King Salman.