Violence spiralling out of control (Lebanon)

Source: Gulf News

Fierce armed clashes erupted on Thursday in Beirut between supporters of Lebanon's government and the Hezbollah-led opposition, a security official said.

The official said the clashes had erupted in several mixed neighbourhoods, with fighters using rocket-propelled grenades, assault rifles and machine guns.

Security sources said the fighting killed at least five people and wounded 12.

Television footage showed armed gunmen in the Corniche Al Mazraa and Ras An-Naba'a districts firing at each other. ...

Read more: http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10211933.html

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Update on the situation in Lebanon... If this doesn't get under control soon we could be looking at Civil WarII...

All flights bound to Beirut from Dubai International Airport were cancelled yesterday until further notice, a source from the airport said. The disruption in the air traffic between Dubai and the Lebanese capital came as a result to the closure of Beirut International Airport because of the opposition protests.

The protests were accompanied by clashes between pro-government forces and the opposition.

Hezbollah and its anti-government allies yesterday blocked the roads leading to the Beirut International Airport for the second day in a row.

Etihad Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi to Beirut was also cancelled yesterday because of the Rafic Hariri International Airport’s closure... http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/theuae_May320.xml§ion=theuae

Also, UAE nationals are being evacuated from Lebanon


Scores of UAE citizens have been evacuated from Beirut safely to Damascus, UAE Ambassador in Lebanon said yesterday.

Mohammed Sultan Al Suweid said the UAE mission in Beirut had taken all required measures to carry them to Damascus, Syria... http://khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2008/May/theuae_May324.xml§ion=theuae

We stir up witches-brews all over the world. Then we decry their effect. it's all soooo sick.

I know this time 'round it's a different situation with different players and dynamics, but that poor city has barely rebuilt itself from the last one. The civilians have got to be completely freaking right now.

May cooler heads prevail (not that they ever do).

Hezbollah is a state within a state that holds too much sway in Lebanon. Itll be screwed up until Hez. is out......nt gonna happen any time soon though Poor people.

All the groups in Lebanon have their militias, Hez is not the worst or the most violent by far. But it is the most powerful, sunnis, druzes (Jumblatt) & christian have the money and the support of US, Saudi Arabia, EU, Israel. No one is "clean" there.

They have demonstrated the capacity for global reach and with syria being a main backer this puts them a foot taller than the other sect. militias. Syria is knee deep in Leb politics anyway.