Since November 2007 Lebanon had been prevented from holding presidential elections due to disagreements on power representation between the Western backed government and the Syrian backed opposition (based on confessions from both sides). On 7 May 2008 the army and anti-government militias started clashes in the streets of Beirut following the government decision to close Al Manar TV Channel, which is backed by the opposition armed group Hezbollah.
According to the UN special envoy, Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen, Lebanon has faced its most serious crisis since the civil war. “The electoral void combined with the stalled functions of Parliament and the defiant manoeuvres of militias are all threats to Lebanon’s ability to function as a sovereign, democratic and independent State.” Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen observed that Hezbollah, which is the most important militia in Lebanon, “maintains a massive para-military infrastructure separate from the state," and is a "threat to regional peace and security." 65 persons were reported to be dead from these clashes.
On 21 May 2008 an agreement was signed in Doha between the opposing factions to stop the escalating violence. According to the Doha agreement no armed group will be permitted to use weapons in any internal conflict; opposition protest camps in central Beirut are to be removed; Syrian-backed opposition will have 11 cabinet seats out of 30 and veto power meaning it can block any government decision it does not agree with. Following the Doha agreement, the election of the new President, a position that had been vacant for six months, was finally held on 25 May 2008.

^{Sources and further reading}

^{"Rival Lebanese sign deal to end crisis," Reuters, 21 May 2008.}

^{United Nations Secretary-General expressed his deep concern at the continuing violence in Lebanon, 9 May 2008.}

^{Security Council Presidential Statement welcomes the Doha agreement, S/PRST/2008/17, 22 May 2005.}

^{UN Secretary-General congratulates the people of Lebanon on the election of the new President, SG/SM/11595, 25 May 2008.}

May-September 2007

Fights between the Lebanese armed forces and members of the Islamic militant armed group, Fatah al-Islam, took place between May to September 2007 in the Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr al-Bared, which is situated in northern Lebanon. During the fighting almost all 30,000 camp residents fled the camp. According to the Report of the UN Secretry General on Children and Armed Conflict (December 2007) Palestinian children were used by Palestinian armed factions in the fights. It is estimated that the fighting resulted in 40 Palestinian civilians killed and over 200 injured.

^{Sources and further reading}

^{International Crisis Group}

^{Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Lebanon bomb attack on UN peacekeepers, 25 June 2007.}

Israel - Lebanon

The Israeli occupation and the 2000 withdrawal; the 2006 armed conflict : see UNIFIL