In a Johnny-come-lately move, the Lebanese army has issued a statement condemning the authors of what it calls a 'plot' to drag the country into the Syrian conflict.
Lebanon's border region is already virtually part of the civil war next door. For weeks now, sectarian clashes have marred the border cities, and now there are many vocal expression on the part of the wider Lebanese population both in support and against the Syrian regime.
The Army for its part has already admonished that it will quell any uprising within Lebanon's borders with any means possible. But is this enough? The border with Syria has been porous from the beginning, and as the sectarian tone of the conflict becomes louder, more and foreigners are willing to join the fight.
Syria too has a vested interest in letting the conflict spill over into neighboring states.
The statement from the Army seems to have been prompted by the decisive effort on Hezbollah's part to regain control of Qusair a vital point of transit and supply route for the insurgents. In that sense, the Army has already placed itself in the Sunni quarter, by trying to stem Hezbollah's involvement in the conflict.
Sunni communities too have responded to the latest turn of events by sending scores of armed men to help the insurgents.
Whether the Army wants it or not, the involvement and engagement or separate sects in the conflict might very well be beyond its ability to exercise control over them.
Source : France 24/ 6.7.13
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