There is no shortage of reasons to be cynical in Lebanon, but we manage to keep our humor intact despite it all.
The Lebanese have a flair for rising above hardships with an impeccable sense of satire ... one might say it's> one of our many national superpowers.
The latest stir in the Lebanese political scene, following >Prime Minister Saad Hariri's shock resignation in Riyadh last week, is no exception.
Lebanese were quick to add a satirical twist to the recent events. Here's a glimpse:
Right off the bat, this guy takes the cake
The Lebanese are feeling as sad as PM Hariri ... AKA "saad"
"Breaking news: Lebanon urges its citizens to leave Lebanon"
This comes as >Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have all advised their respective citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid traveling to the country.
A foreign passport is needed more than ever
On the Saudi Arabia-Iran showdown
"It looks like the Saudi Arabia-Iran final match will take place on our court."
#JeSuisSaad
In response to claims suggesting that PM Hariri - who is a dual Saudi and Lebanese citizen - is being held under house arrest, which France's ambassador to the kingdom recently denied, someone created a sarcastic petition titled "Free Saad Hariri".
The famous "Fadi ma sa2at" commercial made an appearance
"Saad did not fail. With Auxilia, you can help bring him back from Saudi Arabia."
It's safe to say Lebanese creativity has been in full force
PM Hariri got people wishing they could resign as citizens
"If only we could resign from this country. #Saad_Hariri"
3ade, there's nothing to worry about!
"Ma fi shi" ... an ancient Lebanese proverb
Jokes aside, what is happening in Lebanon?
PM Hariri announced his resignation in Riyadh last Saturday, citing fears for his life and accusing Iran-backed Hezbollah of destabilizing Lebanon and the region.
"Over the past decades, Hezbollah has unfortunately managed to impose a fait accompli in Lebanon by the force of its weapons, which it alleges is a resistance weapon," Hariri said in his resignation speech.
Hariri said the political climate in Lebanon is similar to when his father, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, was assassinated in 2005.
With tensions rising between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, four Gulf countries have warned their citizens against traveling to the Mediterranean country.
Recent events have led "to speculation of a fresh war in Lebanon which could possibly see Israeli military action against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group there," according to Gulf News.