Lebanon Pays High Price to Avert Civil War

The agreement that ended Lebanon's 18-month political crisis is nothing less than a sea change for the country, writes the Washington Post, strengthening Hezbollah and dealing a blow to America and its Middle East allies. The US-backed government in Beirut said that the last-minute deal averted a civil war, but gives Hezbollah many of its demands—including a veto over any cabinet decision.

Since the 2005 assassination of PM Rafiq al-Hariri, Lebanon has been beset by troubles, from war with Israel to Hezbollah sacking West Beirut. Yesterday's deal was greeted enthusiastically by Iran and Syria and cautiously by the US. "We may have made compromises and we may have lost something, but it's better than losing everything and Lebanon losing everything." said one Beirut resident. (More Lebanon stories.)