Deepening Sectarianism in Lebanon

Recent provocations by Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, a Lebanese Salafist cleric, against Shiite militant group Hezbollah have highlighted fears that the Syrian conflict could prematurely spill into Lebanon and spark widespread clashes between Sunnis and Shia. Independent of the cleric, such a conflagration would take time to develop while each sect braces for the looming battle. But as part of those preparations, factions across Lebanon could seek to exploit al-Assir's actions for political gain, thus exacerbating the deepening sectarianism throughout the region.