The Syrian civil war has become, mediatically speaking a forgotten conflict. With the reasoning that intervention could be seen as pandering to radicalized foreign rebels, almost all international forces are stalling efforts that could see a conclusion to the civil war. And that's without considering the UN veto against action in Syria made by both China and the Soviet Union.
But things are getting much more complex and dangerous by the minute.
Just yesterday Iran threatened Israel with outright annihilation for its 'interference" in the Syrian conflict. That might have been sparked by the fact that an Israeli commander asserted that he had seen proof of chemical weapons use by Assad.
And Assad has been threatening Jordan over its enabling of rebel trespass into Syria and other collaborative efforts Jordan has made with the insurgents.
But things may evolve much faster than threats. Just this week clashes at the Syria - Lebanon border presaged what could very well be the next phase of the conflict.
Radicalized Al Nusra front, the foreign rebel faction that has already entrenched itself in some parts of Syria and are intent in creating a Sharia state in that country, have now decided to confront Hezbollah's involvement in support of Assad's regime.
The clashes, which have happened before, seem to be different this time. They are persistent and aimed at unseating Hezbollah from what has always been their stronghold and at this time, a launching pad for their action in aiding the Assad regime.
But Salafists in Lebanon are urging Lebanese followers to join the rebels in fighting the Syrian army. This could bolster the chances of the insurgents, but it could de facto be a spreading of the conflict onto Lebanon's territory.
What is more frightening, is that the civil war, started in the name of democracy and freedom, is increasingly becoming a sectarian conflict along the Shi'a-Sunni divide. And that alone could make it a lasting and widespread conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera 4.24.13
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