Lebanon slipping into abyss of civil war

The past two weeks in Lebanon have demonstrated how quickly the country is falling into the abyss of civil conflict. Its multiple problems on a number of fronts are snowballing at an uncontrollable rate and unless the Lebanese decide to put their national interests above their narrow sectarian interests, we can expect to have yet another Middle Eastern civil war — and yet another Lebanese civil war.

It has often been claimed that the Lebanese remember all too well how devastating their 15-year civil war was and that the country would not allow itself to slip into another one any time soon. This time however, external factors may impose such a conflict on the country, catching the people off-guard, with regional wars spilling over into Lebanon. With Syria embroiled in a brutal war and Iraq threatening to return to civil war, the Lebanese people have few options besides pulling together to recognise and work on their shared interests.

Lebanon has had a number of incidents this year that may indicate a turning point leading to civil strife. While the country is not alien to the occasional bomb blast targeting rival politicians, last week’s bombing in the southern suburbs of Beirut marks a dangerous new phase in which civilians have been targeted, Iraq-style. The rise of a Salafist insurgency this year is also a dangerous indicator that the country is not safe from regional conflicts.

Whether its jihadists from the country volunteering to fight in Syria or Hezbollah’s irresponsible intervention in the country’s civil war, Lebanon has been dragged into the conflict there and the conflict has proven that it, too, can come to Lebanon. Lebanon also faces an enormous strain on its resources, being the only country in the region that has entirely opened its doors to Syrian refugees.

Lebanon’s government has adopted a wise decision to maintain neutrality vis-a-vis regional conflicts. If only it had the power to impose such decisions beyond the walls of the Grand Serail and Ba’abda Palace, where the country’s grim reality is unfolding.