To further understand the situation in Lebanon, its important to deconstruct the early stages of the conflict and how Fatah-al Islam defends its actions. Firstly, the fighting that has persisted since May 20th has only been between Fatah-al Islam and the Lebanese Army. The fighting began early on Sunday after a police raid on a house in Tripoli, Lebanon which was apparently being used by militants from Fatah al-Islam. The raid was in response to a bank robbery that Fatah al-Islam members attempted on Sunday and take control of several security strongholds in the North. The armed militants at the office resisted arrest and a gun battle broke out. Since then, the fighting escalated following attempts by the Lebanese Army to corner some of the guerrilla fighters and either kill or arrest them. Members of the group insist they are fighting to protect the Muslims and Palestinians in Lebanon. In my opinion, there objective is understandable in terms with other groups working for the same ends, but the means they deploy to achieve their objective seems paradoxical.

This is a whole new ball game that involves so much more. It just got a lot more complex folks.