Divisive Camps Square Off in Lebanon Vote

Hezbollah is inching towards greater control in Lebanon as the nation gears up for June’s parliamentary elections. The Shiite group, which favors spurning the West and resisting Israel with arms, is in a minority coalition, but winning a handful of seats could change that, GlobalPost reports. Its opposition, led by Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri, opposes arming Hezbollah and envisions an open-market, liberal society.

Lebanese voters are divisively split along sectarian and ideological lines. Though 700 candidates are vying for the 128 spots, the vote will come down to two dozen undecided districts—mostly Christian-dominated areas split between the two camps. The US has indicated that it will re-evaluate its billion-dollar aid package to Lebanon if militant Hezbollah takes control. (More Lebanon stories.)