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In Lebanon, Stoking the Fire of Syria's War In Lebanon, Stoking the Fire of Syria’s War
(about 4 hours later)
HERMEL, Lebanon — On the outskirts of this northern Lebanese town near the Syrian border, a short, rugged dirt track leads downhill to a turquoise river regarded, in times of peace, for its white-water rafting, eco-lodges and fish restaurants.  But in a small clearing at the river’s edge, there are no picnickers or vacationers escaping the summer heat to be found, just a few armed men in camouflage, some masked. HERMEL, Lebanon — On the outskirts of this northern Lebanese town near the Syrian border, a short, rugged dirt track leads downhill to a turquoise river regarded, in times of peace, for its white-water rafting, eco-lodges and fish restaurants. But in a small clearing at the river’s edge, there are no picnickers or vacationers escaping the summer heat to be found, just a few armed men in camouflage, some masked.
The men identified themselves as members of the Popular Committees, a militia made up of Lebanese nationals who say they live inside Syria. The militia is backed by Hezbollah, the powerful militant Shiite Muslim movement based in Lebanon, and is involved in fighting Syrian rebels around the city of Qusayr, a short distance across the border.The men identified themselves as members of the Popular Committees, a militia made up of Lebanese nationals who say they live inside Syria. The militia is backed by Hezbollah, the powerful militant Shiite Muslim movement based in Lebanon, and is involved in fighting Syrian rebels around the city of Qusayr, a short distance across the border.
The term popular committees has been used to designate a number of pro-government militias that have emerged in Syria, but this particular group is unique in the nationality of its members and its close relationship with Hezbollah.  The group is the most visible sign of Hezbollah’s growing participation in Syria’s war, an involvement that further threatens to drag Lebanon into conflict. The term popular committees has been used to designate a number of pro-government militias that have emerged in Syria, but this particular group is unique in the nationality of its members and its close relationship with Hezbollah. The group is the most visible sign of Hezbollah’s growing participation in Syria’s war, an involvement that further threatens to drag Lebanon into conflict.
On May 12, an official from Hezbollah escorted a pair of foreign journalists around the border area and arranged the meeting with the Popular Committees fighters.On May 12, an official from Hezbollah escorted a pair of foreign journalists around the border area and arranged the meeting with the Popular Committees fighters.
One fighter agreed to be interviewed, disclosing only his first name, Karim, and further shrouding his identity with a scarf wrapped across his face.  One of his colleagues kept his back to the conversation and carefully scanned the edge of the clearing for threats with his assault rifle at the ready. One fighter agreed to be interviewed, disclosing only his first name, Karim, and further shrouding his identity with a scarf wrapped across his face. One of his colleagues kept his back to the conversation and carefully scanned the edge of the clearing for threats with his assault rifle at the ready.
“Once the Syrian government could not offer us protection we found ourselves forced to defend our villages and our people,’’ Karim said.  ‘‘We even sold our assets — our cows, our farms — in order to buy weapons and protect these villages and this land.” “Once the Syrian government could not offer us protection we found ourselves forced to defend our villages and our people,’’ Karim said. ‘‘We even sold our assets — our cows, our farms — in order to buy weapons and protect these villages and this land.”
The official line is that the Popular Committees are made up of men from what Hezbollah refers to as the ‘‘Lebanese villages’’ inside Syria.  This refers to a string of predominantly Shiite villages just inside Syria’s border where the majority of residents are said to hold Lebanese nationality.  The party says that 30,000 Lebanese live in this area of Syria and that attacks by the Syrian rebels, mostly Sunnis, forced residents to take up arms and form the Popular Committees. The official line is that the Popular Committees are made up of men from what Hezbollah refers to as the ‘‘Lebanese villages’’ inside Syria. This refers to a string of predominantly Shiite villages just inside Syria’s border where the majority of residents are said to hold Lebanese nationality. The party says that 30,000 Lebanese live in this area of Syria and that attacks by the Syrian rebels, mostly Sunnis, forced residents to take up arms and form the Popular Committees.
“We were born and raised in these villages and we consider these villages as our land,” Karim said.“We were born and raised in these villages and we consider these villages as our land,” Karim said.
Borders are a loose concept in many parts of the Lebanese-Syrian frontier, places where economies have relied on smuggling for generations. In one village, Hawsh Sayyed Ali, a small, shallow stream separates the two countries and the low din of distant artillery hangs in the air.  Children playfully run across the metal grates and logs traversing the boundary, indifferently overlooked by Syrian Army soldiers lounging in pink plastic chairs.  A jeep with metal plates welded around a mounted DShK machine gun splashes through the water in a spot between the countries. Other Syrian soldiers carried their weapons in areas that were quite clearly inside Lebanon.Borders are a loose concept in many parts of the Lebanese-Syrian frontier, places where economies have relied on smuggling for generations. In one village, Hawsh Sayyed Ali, a small, shallow stream separates the two countries and the low din of distant artillery hangs in the air.  Children playfully run across the metal grates and logs traversing the boundary, indifferently overlooked by Syrian Army soldiers lounging in pink plastic chairs.  A jeep with metal plates welded around a mounted DShK machine gun splashes through the water in a spot between the countries. Other Syrian soldiers carried their weapons in areas that were quite clearly inside Lebanon.
In places like Hawsh Sayyed Ali, identities are blurred.In places like Hawsh Sayyed Ali, identities are blurred.
“As a result of the rebels’ actions, we — the people of Hawsh Sayyed Ali — could not arrange to cut our trees or do our jobs on a daily basis,’’ said Mohammed Nimr Nasserdine, a mukhtar, or community leader.  ‘‘So of course we took part in creating the Popular Committees to defend us.”“As a result of the rebels’ actions, we — the people of Hawsh Sayyed Ali — could not arrange to cut our trees or do our jobs on a daily basis,’’ said Mohammed Nimr Nasserdine, a mukhtar, or community leader.  ‘‘So of course we took part in creating the Popular Committees to defend us.”
But the Popular Committees are not purely defensive in their actions.  Karim said the Popular Committees were involved in the Syrian government’s assault against rebel forces in the strategic town of Qusayr, ‘‘because it is the homeland to the terrorist groups.’’ The government of Syria routinely refers to the rebels as terrorists.But the Popular Committees are not purely defensive in their actions.  Karim said the Popular Committees were involved in the Syrian government’s assault against rebel forces in the strategic town of Qusayr, ‘‘because it is the homeland to the terrorist groups.’’ The government of Syria routinely refers to the rebels as terrorists.
On Sunday, May 19, Syrian government forces and their allies broke through rebel lines and were able to capture parts of the city. Sharp fighting has since continued, with scores of civilians reportedly among the dead. Estimates of the number of Hezbollah fighters killed range from 14 to more than 40.On Sunday, May 19, Syrian government forces and their allies broke through rebel lines and were able to capture parts of the city. Sharp fighting has since continued, with scores of civilians reportedly among the dead. Estimates of the number of Hezbollah fighters killed range from 14 to more than 40.
Asked before the latest fighting if the Popular Committees were to cease military offensives in the event that rebel forces were cleared from Qusayr and its environs, Karim said some units might continue pushing forward and aiding the Syrian Army in other fights.Asked before the latest fighting if the Popular Committees were to cease military offensives in the event that rebel forces were cleared from Qusayr and its environs, Karim said some units might continue pushing forward and aiding the Syrian Army in other fights.
Karim asserted that the men in the Popular Committees had not looked for a fight, but were dragged into the war after the rebels ‘‘brainwashed the Sunni villages to fight us and stand against us.’’Karim asserted that the men in the Popular Committees had not looked for a fight, but were dragged into the war after the rebels ‘‘brainwashed the Sunni villages to fight us and stand against us.’’
Syria’s rebels have long accused Hezbollah of taking part in the civil war and of using Lebanese territory to shell Qusayr, but until recently the party had kept mostly silent on events in Syria.Syria’s rebels have long accused Hezbollah of taking part in the civil war and of using Lebanese territory to shell Qusayr, but until recently the party had kept mostly silent on events in Syria.
In a speech on April 30, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, pledged that it would help the Lebanese villages near Qusayr if they were in danger and threatened reprisals if the Sayyida Zeinab Mosque, a Shiite shrine just south of Damascus, came under attack.In a speech on April 30, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, pledged that it would help the Lebanese villages near Qusayr if they were in danger and threatened reprisals if the Sayyida Zeinab Mosque, a Shiite shrine just south of Damascus, came under attack.
In Hermel, men in camouflage could be seen driving jeeps without license plates around town.  In a building used by Hezbollah, armed men who identified themselves as fighters with the Popular Committees just back from the front line dropped in to speak with Hezbollah members.In Hermel, men in camouflage could be seen driving jeeps without license plates around town.  In a building used by Hezbollah, armed men who identified themselves as fighters with the Popular Committees just back from the front line dropped in to speak with Hezbollah members.
In Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs, new martyr posters have appeared in storefronts announcing the deaths of locals.  Across the country, there are funerals for party members killed while performing ‘‘jihadi duties.’’In Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs, new martyr posters have appeared in storefronts announcing the deaths of locals.  Across the country, there are funerals for party members killed while performing ‘‘jihadi duties.’’
The posture, demeanor and equipment that Karim and the other Popular Committees fighters encountered in the clearing suggested a professionalism that is largely lacking from many militias in Lebanon and Syria — save for Hezbollah.The posture, demeanor and equipment that Karim and the other Popular Committees fighters encountered in the clearing suggested a professionalism that is largely lacking from many militias in Lebanon and Syria — save for Hezbollah.
While Hezbollah built its legitimacy on fighting Israel, those two have not had a direct confrontation since 2006. Hezbollah briefly fought against other Lebanese parties in 2008. And now Hezbollah, which depends on President Bashar al-Assad of Syria for transshipments of weapons from Iran, is fighting those trying to overthrow him.While Hezbollah built its legitimacy on fighting Israel, those two have not had a direct confrontation since 2006. Hezbollah briefly fought against other Lebanese parties in 2008. And now Hezbollah, which depends on President Bashar al-Assad of Syria for transshipments of weapons from Iran, is fighting those trying to overthrow him.
Hezbollah’s participation in the war in Syria has led to rebel groups’ shelling Shiite towns near the border in retribution, like Hermel and Hawsh Sayyed Ali.Hezbollah’s participation in the war in Syria has led to rebel groups’ shelling Shiite towns near the border in retribution, like Hermel and Hawsh Sayyed Ali.
“The Syrian rebels are firing shells all over; they do not care who they are shelling and they do not care who they are fighting,’’ said Hassan Nasserdine, a resident of Hawsh Sayyed Ali living just steps from the Syrian border. ‘‘They just hit the Lebanese and Syrian villages for no reason.”“The Syrian rebels are firing shells all over; they do not care who they are shelling and they do not care who they are fighting,’’ said Hassan Nasserdine, a resident of Hawsh Sayyed Ali living just steps from the Syrian border. ‘‘They just hit the Lebanese and Syrian villages for no reason.”
A few weeks ago, a Grad rocket slammed into the small garden that separates the Hermel homes of Hussein Tufaili, a 17-year-old student, and his uncle.  ‘‘We always expected rockets from Israel, but not from our Syrian neighbors,’’ he said.  The blast splintered a few scrawny pine trees and sent shrapnel cutting through a sitting room of his uncle’s house, though nobody was injured.A few weeks ago, a Grad rocket slammed into the small garden that separates the Hermel homes of Hussein Tufaili, a 17-year-old student, and his uncle.  ‘‘We always expected rockets from Israel, but not from our Syrian neighbors,’’ he said.  The blast splintered a few scrawny pine trees and sent shrapnel cutting through a sitting room of his uncle’s house, though nobody was injured.
“If this is the goal of the revolution, we might find ourselves attempting to defend our land by ourselves because no one is taking action,’’ Mr. Tufaili said.  ‘‘What freedom is shelling our houses and our children?  We don’t know what kind of freedom that is.”“If this is the goal of the revolution, we might find ourselves attempting to defend our land by ourselves because no one is taking action,’’ Mr. Tufaili said.  ‘‘What freedom is shelling our houses and our children?  We don’t know what kind of freedom that is.”
Despite the shells and rockets that fall on Lebanese territory nearly every day now, this is a war that is mostly fought on the Syrian side of the border.  But it is a war that is tugging more and more on the fragility of relative peace in Lebanon.Despite the shells and rockets that fall on Lebanese territory nearly every day now, this is a war that is mostly fought on the Syrian side of the border.  But it is a war that is tugging more and more on the fragility of relative peace in Lebanon.
On this side of the border, this is a war where Lebanese are fighting Lebanese already.  Since the start of the conflict, militant Sunni fighters from places like Tripoli, Lebanon’s second city, have been filtering into the fight, and clashes have escalated this week, with eight people killed on Monday and Tuesday, Lebanese news outlets reported.On this side of the border, this is a war where Lebanese are fighting Lebanese already.  Since the start of the conflict, militant Sunni fighters from places like Tripoli, Lebanon’s second city, have been filtering into the fight, and clashes have escalated this week, with eight people killed on Monday and Tuesday, Lebanese news outlets reported.
Last month, as the battle for Qusayr intensified, two prominent Sunni sheikhs, Ahmad al-Assir and Salem al-Rifai, urged followers to cross the border and defend the town.  Not long after the call, video footage of Mr. Assir surfaced showing him walking on patrol with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and firing a machine gun from a roof. The video footage was said to be from Qusayr.Last month, as the battle for Qusayr intensified, two prominent Sunni sheikhs, Ahmad al-Assir and Salem al-Rifai, urged followers to cross the border and defend the town.  Not long after the call, video footage of Mr. Assir surfaced showing him walking on patrol with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and firing a machine gun from a roof. The video footage was said to be from Qusayr.
For Sunni militants, Hezbollah’s involvement in the war has driven calls to fight in Syria.  Increasingly, Shiite residents of the border area around Hermel have charged that rockets fired at them may also be coming from inside Lebanon, from Sunni areas.   Along the border, the number of tit-for-tat sectarian kidnappings has increased.For Sunni militants, Hezbollah’s involvement in the war has driven calls to fight in Syria.  Increasingly, Shiite residents of the border area around Hermel have charged that rockets fired at them may also be coming from inside Lebanon, from Sunni areas.   Along the border, the number of tit-for-tat sectarian kidnappings has increased.
Asked of the danger of Lebanese fighting Lebanese in Syria’s civil war, Karim, the Popular Committees fighter, said: “These people who are defending the Free Syrian Army are in fact supporting terrorism.  I do not have anything other than this to add.”Asked of the danger of Lebanese fighting Lebanese in Syria’s civil war, Karim, the Popular Committees fighter, said: “These people who are defending the Free Syrian Army are in fact supporting terrorism.  I do not have anything other than this to add.”
This article has been updated to reflect fighting that occurred in Qusayr and Tripoli after Josh Wood left Hermel.This article has been updated to reflect fighting that occurred in Qusayr and Tripoli after Josh Wood left Hermel.