Israel Matzav

Gulf states order citizens to leave Lebanon

Fearing sectarian violence from Syria is spilling over, the Gulf states have ordered their citizens to leave Lebanon.

Lebanese Shi'ite gunmen kidnapped more than 20 people on Wednesday in retaliation for the capture of one of their kinsmen in Syria, prompting Sunni Gulf states to warn their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.

A Turk, a Saudi and several Syrians were among those abducted in an area of Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah Shi'ite militants, raising the risk that the sectarian violence driving the conflict in Syria will spread to its neighbor, which fought its own civil war on sectarian lines for 15 years.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar told their citizens to leave Lebanon after the kidnappings and threats to seize more citizens of countries that have backed the uprising against Syria's President Bashar Assad.

Members of the Meqdad clan, one of Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite families, said the kidnapping was retaliation for the capture of kinsman Hassan al-Meqdad by the rebel Free Syrian Army in Damascus two days ago.

They said their hostages included a Turkish businessman, a Saudi and several Syrians they described as rebel fighters.

In remarks to Lebanon's National News Agency, Hassan al-Meqdad's brother Hatem said "the snowball would grow", and warned "Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey and their citizens".

Anyone else we need distracted so we can attack Iran? Heh.

Labels: ethnic conflict, Lebanon, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:32 PM