US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has warned countries against using Lebanon for proxy conflicts, following a crisis triggered by the resignation of its Prime Minister, Saad Hariri. <br/><br/>In a statement today, Tillerson said, there is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state. He said the United States strongly supports the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Lebanon and of its political institutions. Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that a new conflict in the region would have devastating consequences.<br/><br/>Labanese Prime Minister Hariri announced his resignation last Saturday in a TV broadcast from Riyadh citing unspecified threat to his life. Riyadh accused Iran of direct military aggression. Iran and its Lebanese ally, the militant Shia group Hezbollah, claims that the Saudis detained Mr Hariri and forced his resignation. Hezbollah also accused Saudi Arabia of declaring war on Lebanon. <br/><br/>Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies also told their citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately. Today it said one of its citizens has been kidnapped in Lebanon.<br/><br/>