As fierce clashes continue in the border villages of al-Qusayr, there are growing fears that Lebanon is being drawn further into the Syrian conflict. For more than a week, Syrian rebels have fired shells hitting the eastern Lebanese Hermel region, a bastion for the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, in what they say is retaliation for strikes by the group. On Tuesday, two new mortar rounds hit the city of Hermel, causing light damage to a house. Rebels have threatened to “move the battle into Lebanon” if the Syrian government offensive, which they described as Hezbollah-led, continues. Hezbollah has said those fighting are Lebanese party members who have lived in Syrian border villages for decades and are defending themselves against “rebel attacks”. On Monday, a Hezbollah official described the group’s actions as “a national and moral duty in the defence of the Lebanese in border villages”. Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria’s spiralling conflict has been condemned by the Syrian opposition, which views it as a “declaration of war”, and by Lebanese opponents of Hezbollah.
