Hezbollah makes bid for Beirut.

[Psychic_Sandwich]

Hezbollah takes over west Beirut

Gunmen from the Shia militant group Hezbollah have seized most of western Beirut, driving out supporters of the Western-backed government.

The gunmen, who also back Hezbollah's Shia opposition allies, have forced the closure of pro-government media.

The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network.

At least 11 people, mainly civilians, have been killed and dozens injured in the city in three days of clashes.

The UN Security Council has urged the rival parties to stop fighting amid fears of civil war breaking out.

'Internal matter'

Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers.

Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality of the army, and its ability to withstand the sectarian tensions.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country long dominated neighbouring Lebanon, said on Friday that the political crisis there was an "internal matter".

Having withdrawn its army from the country in 2005, Syria denies meddling in Lebanon's internal politics.

Evacuation plan

But Damascus has been accused of involvement in the assassination over the past three years of several anti-Syrians, including Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister.

Lebanon has been without a president since late 2007, amid deadlock between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government.

Lebanese troops and police guard Future News HQ in Beirut on 9 May 2008
The army is trying not to take sides in the escalating stand-off

As residents of west Beirut fled on Friday, the Italian government was reported to be drawing up an evacuation plan for any of its nationals wanting to leave the city.

Earlier, media offices owned by Saad Hariri, a leader of the governing coalition, were shut after being attacked by militants loyal to Hezbollah.

The army moved in after gunmen besieged TV station Future News and partially set fire to the offices of al-Mustaqbal newspaper. Mr Hariri's radio station was also silenced.

'Save Lebanon from hell'

A compromise was reached for the premises to be taken over and protected by the Lebanese army at the price of going off the air.

The Lebanese army command has warned its unity is at risk if the crisis in the capital drags on.

Several Sunni neighbourhoods in west Beirut, considered strongholds of Lebanon's ruling bloc, have reportedly been over-run by militants from Hezbollah and its Shia ally Amal.

A rocket-propelled grenade hit the fence of the heavily protected home of Mr Hariri in western Beirut's Koreitem neighbourhood, officials said.

Boy at a blocked road to Beirut's international airport on 8 May 2008
It is said to be the worst internal strife since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war

Mr Hariri - Lebanon's top Sunni politician - was thought to have been inside at the time.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was reportedly holed up in his heavily guarded offices along with several ministers in downtown Beirut.

The urban warfare has shut down Lebanon's seaport and all but closed the international airport, with burning barricades on major roads in Beirut.

The BBC's Jim Muir in the city says it all amounts to a humiliating blow to the government.

It appears to have badly overplayed its hand in moving to close Hezbollah's telecoms network on Tuesday, he says.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has called the move a "declaration of war".

Mr Hariri said it was a "misunderstanding" and urged gunmen from both sides to withdraw "to save Lebanon from hell".

Bad news

Why can't we all just get along?

[Sidewinder]

Just when the average Lebanese citizen thinks things can't get any worse...

The Rapture (or its Armageddon?? equivalent) seems to be the only way to resolve this problem.

[CJvR]

Well Lebanon haven't really existed in a long time, the last central goverment with actual control over the place vanished decades ago.

[Kanastrous]

There was a grim joke floating around in the 1980s...

At a summit meeting between Syria, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, France, the United States and Russia, representatives agreed that the situation on the ground would improve if the Lebanese agreed to withdraw from the country.

[weemadando]

There was a grim joke floating around in the 1980s...

At a summit meeting between Syria, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, France, the United States and Russia, representatives agreed that the situation on the ground would improve if the Lebanese agreed to withdraw from the country.

The only thing grim about those kind of jokes is that they are usually true.

[Sea Skimmer]

Building on the wonderful success of Hamas in Gaza I see. These groups seem to love the concept of a state within a state even more then Israeli planners

[Jadeite]

Al-Qaeda 'declares war on Hezbollah'
Fri, 09 May 2008 19:19:35

Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its operatives to go to Lebanon and defend what it called the Sunni community of the country.

The report came while some Arab media outlets described the current clashes in Lebanon as a fight between Sunni and Shia communities.

In an interviews with Sunni clerics with links to Saad Hariri's pro-government bloc, Al-Arabiya TV network described the ongoing clashes as a sectarian strife.

Sheikh Ali al-Jozo, Mufti of the Jebel region, who is well known for his harsh stance against Hezbollah told the TV network that the clashes are a battle between Lebanon's Shia and Sunni communities and called on Arab leaders to prevent "Iran's influence in the country."

The TV network reported that al-Qaeda on all of its websites urged its operatives to defend the Sunni community of Lebanon.

The reports came while in interviews with NBN and al-Manar TV stations on Thursday, a number of Sunni clerics said that the clashes are not a sectarian strife and many Sunni Muslims in Lebanon support Hezbollah.

[weemadando]

Oh hawt.

Can we now just sit back and watch?

Oh, and naturally make sure that friendly borders are HELLA secure...

[[R_H]]

Cabinet condemns Hezbollah 'coup' (BBC)

Lebanon's cabinet has said the seizure of most of western Beirut by the Shia group Hezbollah was "a bloody coup".

The Western-backed governing coalition said it was aimed at increasing Iran's influence and restoring that of Syria.

At least 15 people have been killed in three days of clashes between government and opposition supporters. Fighting died down later on Friday.

Washington restated its backing for the government, saying that Hezbollah was killing innocent civilians.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States was committed to helping the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

"We will stand by the Lebanese government and peaceful citizens of Lebanon through this crisis and provide the support they need to weather this storm," she said in a statement.

The gunmen, who also back Hezbollah's Shia opposition allies, have forced the closure of pro-government media.

The opposition has said Hezbollah and its allies will maintain roadblocks around Beirut until there is a solution to the political crisis.

But the Lebanese army is now also on the streets protecting Saad Hariri, a Sunni leader of the governing coalition, and other leading figures who support the cabinet.

The fighting was sparked by a government move on Monday to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network.

Civil War Fears

"The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean," the Lebanese government said in a statement, after holding an emergency session.

"Violence will not terrorise us, but it will increase our resolve," it said.

Mr Siniora was reportedly holed up with several ministers in his heavily guarded in central Beirut.

The Lebanese army did not intervene to stop Hezbollah fighters from seizing large swaths of western Beirut.

The UN Security Council has urged the rival parties to stop fighting amid fears of civil war breaking out.

Lebanon was plunged into civil war from 1975-90, drawing in Syria and Israel, the two regional powers.

Analysts say the key to avoiding such a conflict this time may be the neutrality of the army, and its ability to withstand the sectarian tensions.

Political deadlock

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose country long dominated Lebanon, said on Friday that the political crisis there was an "internal matter".

Having withdrawn its army from the country in 2005, Syria denies meddling in Lebanon's internal politics.

But Damascus has been accused of involvement in the assassination over the past three years of several anti-Syrians, including Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister.

Lebanon has been without a president since late 2007, amid deadlock between the ruling coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition over the make-up of the government.

Earlier, media offices owned by Saad Hariri were shut after being attacked by militants loyal to Hezbollah.

The army moved in after gunmen besieged TV station Future News and partially set fire to the offices of al-Mustaqbal newspaper. Mr Hariri's radio station was also silenced.

'Save Lebanon from hell'

A compromise was reached for the premises to be taken over and protected by the Lebanese army at the price of going off the air.

Several Sunni neighbourhoods in western Beirut, considered strongholds of Lebanon's ruling bloc, have reportedly been over-run by militants from Hezbollah and its Shia ally Amal.

A rocket-propelled grenade hit the fence of the heavily protected home of Mr Hariri in the Koreitem neighbourhood, officials said.

The urban warfare has shut down Lebanon's seaport and all but closed the international airport, with burning barricades on major roads in Beirut.

The BBC's Jim Muir in the city says it all amounts to a humiliating blow to the government.

It appears to have badly overplayed its hand in moving to close Hezbollah's telecoms network on Tuesday, he says.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has called the move a "declaration of war".

Mr Hariri said it was a "misunderstanding" and urged gunmen from both sides to withdraw "to save Lebanon from hell".

So the violence is sectarian, like it is/was in Iraq?

[Siege]

Man, Beirut just can't get a break, can it? That city is like Gotham but without the spandex, every month or so there's someone else running around blowing shit up.

And how can the Lebanese army be "neutral" when Hezbollah is actively taking over the city? If they stand by with their dicks in their hands, doesn't that mean they're effectively on Hezbollah's side?

[[R_H]]

Man, Beirut just can't get a break, can it? That city is like Gotham but without the spandex, every month or so there's someone else running around blowing shit up.

And how can the Lebanese army be "neutral" when Hezbollah is actively taking over the city? If they stand by with their dicks in their hands, doesn't that mean they're effectively on Hezbollah's side?

Is the army even taking action against Hezbollah, or is the fighting just between the internal security forces/police and Hezbollah?

[Master of Ossus]

Man, Beirut just can't get a break, can it? That city is like Gotham but without the spandex, every month or so there's someone else running around blowing shit up.

And how can the Lebanese army be "neutral" when Hezbollah is actively taking over the city? If they stand by with their dicks in their hands, doesn't that mean they're effectively on Hezbollah's side?

Is the army even taking action against Hezbollah, or is the fighting just between the internal security forces/police and Hezbollah?

The army didn't do anything. They actually negotiated the surrender of some pro-government militia, since if they intervene they'll be shot at but moreover their chain of command would implode with all the factionalism going on internally.

[Sidewinder]

What a clusterfuck. Iran and Syria are backing Hezbollah, al-Qaida is backing the Sunni factions (which apparently includes the government), and Washington is asking itself, "If the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy... which side do I take?"

[CJvR]

...and Washington is asking itself, "If the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy... which side do I take?"

Nuke them all and let Allah sort them out! Is Syria Shia? I thought that particular perversion was limited to Iran and southern Iraq.
Another Shia theocracy will not og down well among the Sunni states, particulary as the Hizbs are far more likely to shoot Sunnis than Jews if they get control of Lebanon if the Iraq example is anything to go by.
The current state is really nothing new, Lebanon cant have two armies and still claim to be one soverign nation.

[TheKwas]

The 'government' of Syria is bathist and relatively secular, while the majority of the populace is actually Sunni. However, the government has developed a healthy relationship with Hezbollah through years of interaction during the civil war and a common position on Israel.

[weemadando]

Just heard on BBC World Service that Hezbollah is apparently backing down and giving it up to the Lebanese Army. We'll see how that goes.

[[R_H]]

Lebanese violence reaches Tripoli (BBC)

Fighting has been reported through the night in the Lebanese city of Tripoli between Hezbollah sympathisers and supporters of the government.

Machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades are being used and people have been fleeing their homes, correspondents say.

Three people died in the northern city on Saturday.

Meanwhile, an uneasy calm has descended on the capital, Beirut, scene of four days of bloody street battles.

More than 30 people died in those clashes between Hezbollah fighters and government supporters.

On Saturday, Hezbollah agreed to pull its fighters off the streets of the Muslim western part of the city after the army overturned government measures aimed at curbing the group.

Offices burnt

Sunni supporters of the Western-backed government have been fighting members of an Alawite sect loyal to Hezbollah in Tripoli, an unnamed security official told AFP news agency.

About 7,000 people have fled from the city's Bab al-Tebbaneh district, which marks the front line, the official said.

Earlier, pro-government demonstrators burnt offices of the pro-Syrian Baath Party offices.

They stamped on posters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

They could also be seen throwing furniture and files from the Baath offices and a local opposition politician's office, The Associated Press reports.

Face-saving initiative

The confrontation in Beirut eased off after the army offered a face-saving compromise that allowed the government to back down from two controversial decisions.

The government had moved to shut down Hezbollah's telecoms network and remove the chief of security at Beirut airport for alleged Hezbollah sympathies.

Those decisions triggered a devastating Hezbollah onslaught, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Beirut

The army has essentially shelved both of them.

Managing to retain its unity and the respect of both sides, the army has emerged as the arbiter in the current crisis, our correspondent says.

If all goes well, the army initiative should restore calm on the streets and see the international airport reopen.

While it does not address the fundamental political deadlock underlying the eruption of violence, it has created a problem-solving mechanism that may help movement in that direction.

Our correspondent notes that all parties agree that the army commander, Gen Michel Suleiman, should be Lebanon's next president.

[Wanderer]

Sounds like the Army effectively sided with Hezbollah.

In a way it makes sense as they owe Hezbollah for driving the Israelis out and defending the country while they couldn't.

The question is can the Army maintain its independence or will it be consumed by Hezbollah???

[MKSheppard]

No it can't maintain it's independence. So expect another Israeli incursion sometime in the near future to smash Hizbollah AGAIN

[Elfdart]

No it can't maintain it's independence. So expect another Israeli incursion sometime in the near future to smash Hizbollah AGAIN

The IDF is 0-2 vs Hezbollah, numbnuts. Any particular reason why next time would be any different?

Oh hawt.

Can we now just sit back and watch?

Oh, and naturally make sure that friendly borders are HELLA secure...

Given that Hezbollah has not only fought regular forces, but defeated them as well; and that Al Qaeda's specialty is cutting the throats of stewardesses, I don't think this would be much of a fight. The closest Bin Laden's stooges have come to a successful attack on a military target was the bombing of the Cole, and that was because the ship's captain had his head up his ass.

And how can the Lebanese army be "neutral" when Hezbollah is actively taking over the city? If they stand by with their dicks in their hands, doesn't that mean they're effectively on Hezbollah's side?

First, I'd imagine that a good part of the army is made up of Hezbos, or their Christian allies (thank you very much, Olmert). Second, after the Hezbos defeated Israel again, the idea of the army (which is little more than a police force) actually fighting the Hezbos is as ridiculous as the idea of the NYPD opening fire on the Marines less than two years after Iwo Jima. They'd be more likely to join them than fight them.

[Alyrium Denryle]

The IDF is 0-2 vs Hezbollah, numbnuts. Any particular reason why next time would be any different?

Last I checked, the Israelis were not militarily defeated, but rather could not win the information war, and the Israelis were forced to bow to international pressure. I could be wrong here, but that IS how I remember it.

[MKSheppard]

The IDF is 0-2 vs Hezbollah, numbnuts. Any particular reason why next time would be any different?

1-0-1 Actually.

1 Win - Kicked everyone's asses in Lebanon stayed there until Sharon decided to withdraw from there - Hizbollah spun it as a "victory", but we know the truth.

0 - Defeats

1- Draw : The Lebanon War of what 2007; or is it 2006? Israel pretty much shredded any attempts that Hizbollah tried on them; and really put a hurting on Hizbollah; but fumbled the entire process by slowly moving......moving.........moving forward so that by the time Olmert abdicated the war; the IDF hadn't reached the main hizbollah strongholds. So in effect, it was a draw for everyone

[Admiral Valdemar]

The whole fucking Middle-East is a big losing streak for the world. Whether State A managed to kill more of Pseudo-State B's men and stop their short-term goals or not is pretty redundant when it's still the same shit, different day situation.

I'd call for the whole region to be swallowed by the sea, but then I realise we'd be without a lot of oil. And probably it's seen as genocide by some, but apathy wins this round for me.

[hongi]

I go to a Muslim forum, you should hear the debates between the members. Only a little while ago, Hezbollah were legitimate defenders of Lebanon against Israeli aggression, now Hezbollah is resorting to disgusting, dangerous actions against the people of Lebanon. Hezbollah aren't so noble when they come back to bite Sunnis in the arse are they?

[Crayz9000]

What a clusterfuck. Iran and Syria are backing Hezbollah, al-Qaida is backing the Sunni factions (which apparently includes the government), and Washington is asking itself, "If the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy... which side do I take?"

I believe the correct response to that is, "Nuke 'em all and let God sort 'em out..."