Fears Grow As Syrian Conflict Ignites Lebanon

05:07

May 27, 2013

A Lebanese army soldier stands guard in front of damaged cars where a rocket struck a car exhibit at the Mar Mikhael district, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday May 26, 2013. (Hussein Malla/AP)

Rockets struck areas of Beirut controlled by the militant Islamic group Hezbollah over the weekend, adding to the fears that the Syrian civil war could revive Lebanon's own dormant civil war.

The attacks came after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's open declaration of support for the embattled Syrian regime.

Hezbollah is Lebanon's most powerful political party and fighters from the group have been quietly helping Syrian government forces battle the rebels.

Politics in both countries are deeply divided over splits between between Shia and Sunni Muslims and Christian minorities.

The weekend's developments come as European Union officials begin a new debate on arming Syrian rebels.

Guest:

Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. He tweets @RamiKhouri.

This segment aired on May 27, 2013.