On 12 January 2011 , the government collapsed after energy minister Gebran Bassil announced that all ten opposition ministers had resigned following months of warnings by Hezbollah that it would not remain inactive should there be indictments against the group . The '' New York Times '' suggested the resignations came after the collapse of talks between Syria and Saudi Arabia to ease tensions in Lebanon . It also suggested that the opposition wanted 11 resignations before Hariri 's meeting with US President Barack Obama so as to embarrass Hariri for not having a government . However , Suleiman-appointee , Minister of State Adnan Sayyed Hussein , resigned later . The resignations stemmed from PM Hariri 's refusal to call an emergency cabinet session over discussion for withdrawing cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon , which was expected to indict Hezbollah members in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri . Following the fall of the government reports of an " imminent release " of the indictments circulated , though constitutionally there would be no government to receive the indictment as this was first time in Lebanese history a government had fallen after the resignations of a third of the government . Preliminary indictments were issued January 17 as expected , ) though they were pending STL approval
the assassination
Assassination of Rafic Hariri
Lebanese government of November 2009