World press on the Syrian crisis and Hezbollah (February 23, 2013)

The Hurriyet Daily News published today an article entitled "Syrian rebels playing with ‘Hezbollah’ fire ".

"Amid the tacky reports on whether the Sunni Syrian rebel groups have hit positions of a Shiite Lebanese militant group in northern Lebanon late last week, the forces fighting against Damascus have recently seemed to be unable to see that they are about to spark a fire that will not only blaze through them but also the entire region," the article starts.

" The skirmish between the Syrian opposition and Lebanon’s strong militant group Hezbollah has had a long history since the latter is historically allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad due to their common regional strategic interests and alliances, as well as foes. However, the “silent” discontent of the opposition turned violent lately, with armed rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) umbrella, mainly the wayward al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra, entering into fights with Hezbollah on the Syrian-Lebanese border, reportedly killing dozens from both sides. " the article reads.

"In addition to the possible grave damage in a new front with Hezbollah, the Syrian rebels’ challenge against the militias has further fueled the concerns over a regional instability with the civil war in Syria now at risk of spreading well over the borders. " Cihan Çelik writes.

" The risk of a Syria spill over also stands for Turkey but for Lebanon, a country that suffered from a civil war and has still failed to find a remedy to ethnic-based political structure and society, the stakes are even higher. Hence, Hezbollah has so far adopted a role in which it has been wise enough not to be dragged into the Syrian quagmire and, to a larger extent, an all-out-war based on a deeply divided, fragile regional situation. " the article ends.