Hezbollah shows its strength in Beirut takeover

The Shia militant group Hezbollah seized control of key parts of Beirut from Western-backed Sunni rivals today in a show of force as it fights for dominance in Lebanon’s political deadlock.

An ally said the group intended to pull back, at least partially, from the areas its gunmen occupied overnight and this morning, indicating Hezbollah does not intend a full-scale, permanent takeover of Sunni Muslim parts of Beirut, similar to the Hamas takeover of Gaza a year ago.