Riots Erupt in Lebanon

Pretty much as expected:

Riots erupt in Lebanon after designation of Hezbolah's Mikati as PM

Riots and protests on Tuesday erupted after Lebanon’s President Michel Suleiman designated Najib Mikati as Prime Minsiter designate, the state-run National News Agency reported.Many demonstrators have been injured in Tripoli, Qebba, Zahle and Wata Al-Mousaytbeh regions. Lebanese Army has been deployed to the areas to disperse protesters.

In the Bar-Elias region in Zahle, protesters set barricades on fire by using tires. The protest erupted into gunfire causing the injury of one person who was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

The main road that connects Tripoli with Menieh-Akkar was blocked by Sunnites protesters who burned tires and blocked the access. Another protester was hurt due to gun shots.

Thus far, we are seeing a continuation of the "worst case scenario" - beginning with Hezbollah's actions to effectively end the current government structure, and then replacing the Prime Minister with Najib Mikati, which has effectively given Hezbollah complete control over Lebanon.

And as many predicted, violence has now ensued and shows no signs of remitting.

Anjar inhabitants blocked the Sham road next to Akramiyeh entrance. The crossroad towards Kaskas and Tayyounehw as also blocked with burning tires by demonstrators as well as the road in Baqqar, Qebba.

On Monday, President Suleiman designated Makiti as PM designate. Makiti is backed by the Hezbollah Shia Islamist group. The protests were staged against Hezbollah’s growing political power.

Riots erupt in Lebanon after designation of Hezbollah's Mikati as PM

Many demonstrators have been injured in Tripoli, Qebba, Zahle and Wata Al-Mousaytbeh regions. Lebanese Army has been deployed to the areas to disperse protesters.

In the Bar-Elias region in Zahle, protesters set barricades on fire by using tires. The protest erupted into gunfire

At about 2:00 p.m. local time, Mikati arrived to the Baabda presidential palace for a tripartite meeting with President Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri. After the meeting Mikati said that parliamentary consultations are scheduled to begin on Thursday to constitute a new cabinet.

So far almost everything has happened as predicted. It was also predicted that following a period of internal violence, as being reported today, we will see a continuation of these events into Israel. Only time will tell, but this evolving situation is worth watching very closely.