Hezbollah Overruns Large Parts of Beirut

Lebanon is appearing ever more to be in the midst of a full scale civil war initiated by Iran's proxy militia, Hezbollah. Hezbollah has now taken control of large parts of Beirut and is attacking businesses and offices of the elected government and its members.

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Lebanese news site Ya Libnan is reporting that violence is continuing to escalate in Beirut as dawn rises on the third day of hostilities. As one observer notes, "the ongoing battles are not random, but an orchestrated plan to unfold what was called "resistance" was really aimed at controlling the power and decision-taking in Lebanon."

This from Reuters:

Hezbollah gunmen took control of large areas of Beirut on Friday in a third day of fighting between the pro-Iranian group and fighters loyal to the U.S.-backed governing coalition.

Security sources said at least 10 people had been killed and 20 wounded. The thud of exploding grenades and crackle of automatic gunfire echoed across the city in the worst internal strife since the 1975-90 civil war.

Gunmen loyal to Hezbollah forced the pro-government Future News television off the air, said a senior official at the Beirut station. Future News is owned by Saad al-Hariri, a Sunni politician and leader of the governing coalition.

The security sources said Hezbollah and fighters from the allied Amal movement -- both Shi'ite groups -- had overrun offices of Hariri's Future group across the predominantly Muslim western half of Beirut.

Gunmen had also taken over the offices of Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, witnesses said. Smoke billowed from the building's windows.

. . . In scenes reminiscent of the darkest days of the civil war, young men armed with assault rifles roamed the streets amid smashed cars and smoldering buildings. . . .

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