The Islamic State Now Has A Toe-Hold In Lebanon

ISIS Gains First Ground in Lebanon -- The Wire

Militants associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captured the Lebanese city of Arsal in fighting that began on Friday and continued Monday.

According to The Telegraph, a Syrian rebel group set up check-points in the border city but have not yet declared the area as part of the caliphate. In addition to 40,000 residents, there are roughly 120,000 refugees living in Arsal.

The conflict broke out after the Lebanese Army arrested Abu Ahmad al-Jumaa, a former commander in the Free Syrian Army who later declared allegiance to ISIS. Officials said they arrested Jumaa because he planned to attack an army outpost.

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More News On The Islamic State Military Campaign In Lebanon

Ceasefire extended in Lebanon's Arsal -- Al Jazeera
Deal reached: ISIS to leave Arsal, soldiers to be released -- Daily Star
Lebanon's army clashes with ISIS militants in Arsal as ceasefire efforts continue -- Al Bawaba
Lebanese army surrounds border town, evacuates refugees -- Reuters
ISIS Invades Lebanon, Hezbollah Steps Back -- Arutz Sheva
Al-Qaeda offshoot Islamic State expands its reach into Lebanon as tensions rise -- Washington Post
Syria's civil war is threatening Lebanon -- Deutsceh Welle
Hezbollah preparing for Arsal conflict intervention: source -- Asharq Al-Awsat
Arsal clashes start of mini-civil war -- Robert Fisk, Daily Star

Update: The Saudis are getting nervous .... King Abdullah pledges $1 bn to Lebanese army: Hariri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Fierce Fighting Continues In The Lebanese City Of Sidon

Fighting Rages in Lebanon's Third Largest City -- Voice of America

Fierce fighting between Lebanese security forces and gunmen loyal to a hard-line Sunni Muslim cleric raged for a second day in the southern city of Sidon leaving dozens of soldiers and militants dead.

For two days radical Sunni gunmen have clashed with Lebanese soldiers - the worst fighting Lebanon’s third largest city has seen since 2008.

Army sources say at least 16 soldiers have died in the violence centered on a mosque in the Abra district in this port city.

Veteran politician Osama Saad said the battles remind him of the day his father, Maarouf, a pro-Palestinian and pro-Syrian Lebanese leader, was slain by a sniper’s bullet in Sidon in 1975.

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More News On Fierce Fighting In The Lebanese City Of Sidon

Lebanese soldiers seize mosque in Sidon -- Irish Times
Lebanon faces tumult after deadliest Syria-related clashes -- Reuters
Deadly clashes rage in Lebanon -- L.A. Times
Hezbollah fighters report killing Syrians in fierce battle in Lebanon’s Sidon -- Miami Herald/McClatchy news
Death toll rises in southern Lebanon clashes between army and Sunni militia -- Washington Post
Lebanese army storms Islamist mosque as Syria crisis spreads - 16 soldiers killed -- Haaretz/Reuters
Sunni cleric incites gun battle with Lebanese Army and Hezbollah -- Christian Science Monitor
Clashes challenge Lebanon's weak military -- Newsday/AP
Mission accomplished, Assir on the run -- Daily Star
Army’s Sidon operation wins wide support -- Daily Star
The rise and fall of Sheikh Ahmad Assir -- Niamh Fleming-Farrell, The Daily Star

Peace in Lebanon?

Summary Of News Reports On Lebanon
Rival Lebanese leaders forge deal to end conflict -- Reuters
Lebanon's feuding factions reach agreement -- Yahoo News
Lebanon Agreement Buoys Hizballah -- Time Magazine
Hizbollah's Lebanon veto power boosts Iran's Middle East influence -- The Telegraph
Rival Lebanese leaders agree deal -- The Independent
Lebanese rivals agree to end stand-off -- Guardian
Lebanon agreement shifts power to Hezbollah -- International Herald Tribune
Hezb'allah Takes Control in Lebanon -- American Thinker
Deal in Lebanon Adds to Hezbollah's Political Sway -- New York Sun
Hezbollah Wins in Lebanon - Is This the "Grand Bargain" in Action? -- Counter Terrorism Blog
Lebanon: National dialogue in Doha -- Global Voices

My Comment: Hezbollah has won this battle, but they are now positioned to lose the war. The Sunni community (in particularly the religious extremists) in the Middle East are not going to accept this status quo. This agreement was done to only buy time to position themselves to succeed in the next war/battle.

Civil War In Lebanon -- News Updates May 12, 2008

Heavy Fighting Breaks Out In North Lebanon -- Yahoo News

Lebanese Army Says Will Intervene From Tuesday -- Reuters

Hezbollah Moves War Outside Beirut-- 44 Dead ...Tripoli Fights Back -- Gateway Pundit

Clashes Resume In North Lebanon -- BBC News

Dozens More Are Killed In Fighting Around Beirut -- International Herald Tribune

Lebanese Troops Fail To Stop Violence -- Guardian

Surrendering to Hizballah -- Time Magazine

Lebanon Army Deploys To Halt Mountain Clashes -- MSNBC

Lebanese Violence Spreads To Mountains Outside Capital -- Yahoo News

Hezbollah Fighters Pile Pressure On Lebanon Rivals -- Reuters

Lebanese Army Caught In Crossfire Between Druze And Hezbollah Gunmen -- Times Online

Barricading Beirut -- Newsweek

Arabs Hold Crisis Talks On Hezbollah ‘Coup’ In Beirut -- Times Online

Lebanon Facing Threat Of Civil War -- Telegraph

Hezbollah 'Redrawing' Mideast Map -- Washington Times

Hizballah vs State -- Foreign Policy Association

Expected And Undisturbed Hezbollah Coup -- Counter Terrorism Blog

Lebanon's "300" -- Counter Terrorism Blog

As Bullets Fly, Lebanese Ask, “What Happens Next?” -- Pajamas Media

Crisis In Lebanon -- Full Coverage Yahoo News

Full Coverage From Ya Liban

'Hizbullah Is Pushing Lebanon Towards A Khomeini-Style Of Rule' -- Jerusalem Post

Lebanon: New Sunni Militia To Defend Itself From Hezbollah -- adn kRONOS

PA: Hizbullah Acting Like Hamas In Gaza -- Jerusalem Post

Saudis Secretly Funneled Weapons To Anti-Hezbollah Forces -- World Net Daily


Lebanese Bloggers

Complete Coverage From Ceders Revolution

Complete Coverage From Beirut To The Beltway

Complete Coverage From Beirut Spring

Complete Coverage From Blacksmiths Of Lebanon

Complete Coverage From Jeha's Nail

The Military Situation In Beirut -- Across The Bay

My Comment: The civil war in the Islamic community continues. Expect all arab countries and Iran to become involved.

Will War Return To Lebanon?

From Beirut To The Beltway:

In one of his most aggressive speeches since the civil war, Walid Jumblatt said March 14 will go to war against Hizbullah if that’s what the militia wants. “Our existence, dignity and Lebanon are more important than anything else. You want disorder, so be it.”, he said, addressing Hizbullah and the forces he said are trying to bring back Syrian hegemony. ”You want war, so be it. We have no problem with weapons, no problem with missiles. We will take your ready-to-use missiles. We have no problem with martyrdom and suicide.”

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From The Middle East Journal:

Just a few nights ago I said to some out of town friends that I thought another war, between Hezbollah and whichever adversary first decides to pick up the sword, is all but inevitable in Lebanon. I wish it weren't so, but it probably is. If the Israelis don't do it, someone in Lebanon will unless the Syrian and Iranian regimes are first brought to heel.

Right on schedule, Druze chief Walid Jumblatt throws down the gauntlet.
Abu Kais has the story, from articles he translated from Arabic:

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My Comment: Hizbullah has rearmed itself, and with internal problems growing in the countries of their sponsors (Syria and Iran) another war can only help to divert attention from their own problems.

So .... will there be another war?

All sides have rearmed, political disputes have not been solved, political leaders murdered, and resentment and bitterness are now open for all to see. I do not know if a war will break out, but all sides are clearly positioning themselves for war.