The Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Lebanon a divided country: Rave in the north, rockets in the south

When a possible major war threatens in the Middle East, the inhabitants of Lebanon live in two different realities, writes the Wall Street Journal in a report.

In southern Lebanon, the rockets have rained across the border with Israel for months - in both directions. Parts of the border area in Lebanon have become uninhabitable and around 100,000 people have been forced to flee.

In stark contrast to the crisis in the south, parties are healthy further north, writes the newspaper, which has visited a party in Kfardebian north of Beirut where expensive bottles and cigarettes complement the swimming pool and house music.

- People dance as if it's the last party on earth, says drag artist Latiza Bombé.

The country has long been divided. The main problem is that there is a lack of a strong central state, says historian Christian Taoutel. Since terrorist-classified Hezbollah emerged in the 1980s, it has become the country's strongest fighting force, largely thanks to the support of Iran. The group's position is particularly strong in the south.

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"The war has divided us - those in the south are paying the price"

"It's always been like this," says 60-year-old fashion store owner Carla Salem about Lebanon now being a divided country with two different realities. In southern Lebanon, the rockets are raining over the border, while the north is partying well, writes the Wall Street Journal.

- It is resilience that is pushed to its extreme, she says.

In the southern tip of the country, where Hezbollah and Israel shell each other daily, residents say the war has already arrived.

- It's like the war split the population in two, and it's only people in the south who pay the price, says 47-year-old farmer Hafez Moustafa.
US Air Force chief: "A reduced risk of major war"

The risk of a major war in the Middle East has decreased somewhat - at least in the short term, US Air 

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Force Chief Charles Brown told Reuters.

One reason for his assessment is the extensive attacks that Israel and Hezbollah carried out against each other this weekend. The attacks resulted in limited damage in Israel, and meant that tensions eased somewhat.

- There were two things we knew would happen. One has already happened. Now it depends on how the other person feels, he says.

Brown believes that the remaining concern is Iran's possible plans for an attack on Israel.