The small country of Lebanon lies at the center of the Middle East jigsaw. Its labyrinthine internal politics reflect and connect with all the complexities of the region and the surrounding countries.
To grasp what is happening in divided Lebanon, one has to understand the bigger Middle East picture. That picture is dominated by two disruptive sources that poison everything around them, namely Iran and the Israel-Palestine dispute.
Ever since the invasion of Iraq and the toppling of President Saddam Hussein, Iran has been expanding its influence and building up its role as the leading force against America and the West, and in favor of Islamic extremism. It has seized the lead from the Arab world in the promotion of violent challenges to established regimes friendly to the West, notably Israel.