Hezbollah takes control over parts of Beirut
Even as Lebanon was once again delaying its presidential election due to lack of consensus among rival factions of parliament, the conflict between the supporters of the political opposition and the government was being played out in the streets of the capital city of Beirut. Clashes between the two sides resulted in a number of deaths at the start of the second week of May 2008. Included in the death toll were a mother and son, as well as a member of the parliament's security force. The central and southern parts of Beirut appeared to be most affected by the conflict, largely because it was an area inhabited by both Sunni and Shi'a Muslim communities.
The violence was sparked when Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, characterized the government's decision to close its telecommunications network as a "declaration of war." The network had been deemed a threat to security. He thusly promised to "cut off the hand" trying to dismantle its operations. On the other side of the equation, Saad Hariri, the leader of the pro-Western parliamentary majority, called for an end to the bloodshed saying, "My appeal to you is to stop the language of arms." This call was not realized. There were subsequent reports that Hezbollah attacked a media networks and offices associated with Hariri in retaliation. As well, Hezbollah had control over the airport and key transport arteries
Meanwhile, the Lebanese military warned that the country's security would be at risk if the crisis went on, and it also suggested that its neutral status could be compromised if it was forced to intervene to stop the violence.
But by May 9, 2008, Hezbollah had control over the Muslim part of the Lebanese capital city of Beirut. This development came after several successive days of violence and bloodshed between Hezbollah and pro-government forces, reminiscent of the period in which the country had been plunged into a civil war. Hezbollah's takeover of large swaths of Beirut marked a disturbing escalation of the conflict over political power into the realm of full-blown crisis. To that end, the Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said that an "armed and bloody coup" was taking place in his country. Those in Siniora's government charged that Hezbollah was aiming to both increase Iran's influence and restore Syria's hold on Lebanon.
Yet to be seen was the matter of whether or not Hezbollah would hold control over Beirut or cede power to the military.
Editor's Note: Since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri -- a noted politician with an anti-Syrian orientation -- Lebanon has slowly retrenched into a state of dissonance. The period was saw a short-term transformation when the Cedar Revolution that swept pro-Western and anti-Syrian factions to power at the polls later that year, along with the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. However, since that time, political stability has devolved, es exemplified by a spate of political assassinations blamed on pro-Syrian elements. As well, Lebanon was the site that bore the brunt of the violence during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. In recent times, the country has been caught in a political deadlock and intransigence over presidential succession, largely due to prevailing acrimony between pro-Syrian/pro-Hezbollah factions and pro-reform/Western-backed members in the Lebanese parliament.
-- Denise Youngblood Coleman Ph.D.
Houston, Texas
May 9, 2008
Note: For information and analysis about Election 2008 in the United States, see the "Special Report: Road to the White House 2008," available from the "Special Reports" tab located on the front page of the CountryWatch website.