The political outlook in the region continues to remain cloudy, especially in Egypt and Syria, while Lebanon grapples with several political and economic challenges.
Diplomatic sources in Beirut link the country’s political paralysis and drift to the situation in Syria, which is mired in a political and military stalemate. They expressed concerns that the Lebanese arena would itself fall into chaos if it continued to remain linked to the crisis in its neighbor to the north and east.
The refugee situation is straining Lebanon’s ability to cope, as top leaders are warning, and observers expect even more Syrians to stream across the border into Lebanon, where sharp political disputes and gridlock in the Cabinet could mean an uptick in worrying security incidents.