Disarray among Lebanese troops; civil war beckons

THE SITUATION COULD NOT BE MORE CONFUSED ON THE GROUND
as the Lebanese army disintegrates into disarray. Field
correspondents are reporting the split of the armed forces
along essentially tribal lines, with some soldiers opting
to join Hezbollah's holy war against the Lebanese government
and others choosing to defend their cherished secular way
of life.

Gun battles around Tyre and Sidon, both within sight of the
Israeli border, are becoming ever more confused - Hezbollah
fighters are fighting Lebanese regulars, who are fighting
each other, some of whom are fighting Israel, together with
Hezbollah, who it appears is preparing to fight Israel,, all
this while the Lebanese government is making requests for
military assistance from Israel against Hezbollah, and now,
against its own soldiers as well.

The country appears to be on the brink of a civil war. Syria
has indicated that it will not allow a complete breakdown of
order in the region; what precisely this means is yet to be
seen.

The UN Security Council is discussing the matter.