Lebanon: A Firefight in Beirut

Two Hezbollah members and two members of the pro-Syrian heterodox Sunni Lebanese group Al Ahbash reportedly died in a clash in Beirut on Aug. 24. While the fighting may have resulted from a personal dispute, larger regional forces could be at work. In two such scenarios, Syria could be using Al Ahbash to shake Hezbollah's nerves, while Iran and Hezbollah could be looking for ways to threaten Syrian assets in Lebanon.