Security situation The role played by the war in Syria and the influence of Hezbollah

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Inside the Tripoli souk

This is in part due to Hezbollah acting as a “state within a state” and deploying armed fighters who are not part of the regular armed forces, without the consent of the government. Large parts of southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley are under the military control of this militia force.

Meanwhile, the state monopoly on the use of force is also being challenged by terrorist organisations which are trying to infiltrate the country. These organisations include the group calling itself “Islamic State” and the al-Nusra Front, which is part of the al-Qaeda network.

The Lebanese Armed Forces, an interdenominational institution, is an important stabilising force in the current crisis and may provide security. However, it is severely underfunded and poorly equipped.