07.18.08
Still a ticking timebomb
On one hand, the sh*t is kicking off again in Tripoli:
“One person was killed and six people were wounded in renewed clashes overnight in Lebanon’s northern port city of Tripoli.
News reports on Friday said a man died and two others were wounded when a car refused to stop at an army roadblock in Bab al-Tebbaneh.”
On the other hand, in addition to threatening You Tube videos, telephone calls and text messages, an Israeli intelligence site just reported that Hizbullah are ready to shoot down any Israeli jets flying in Lebanese airspace, which is a violation that Israel often engages in… Sounds to me like someon’es on the offensive!
The only thing I’m curious about is which will happen first: Israel vs. Lebanon, Part 3; or Lebanon vs. Lebanon, Part 167…
06.23.08
Back to the edge of the precipice
After sporadic clashes in the Bekka over the past two weeks that claimed 3 lives, the violence moved to Tripoli yesterday and, despite efforts to resolve the conflict last night, continues today. So far, six people have died and over 40 have been wounded.
As the government is still no closer to forming a cabinet and the violence continues to escalate, the ‘peace’ that was celebrated so dramatically a mere 4 weeks ago is dissolving before everyone’s eyes. Like a transparent band-aid placed over an infected, festering blister, the Doha agreement is revealing itself to be completely ineffective.
There is no sign of the violence in Tripoli subsiding, but there is no doubt that, with the memory of bloodshed so fresh in so many minds, everyone here in Beirut is hoping that it will not spread.
For minute-by-minute updates on the events as they unfold, check here.
