Clashes in the northern city of Tripoli between supporters and opponents of the Assad regime escalated into a round of violence reminiscent of Lebanon's civil war. With ardent Sunni supporters of the Syrian revolution on one hand, and a Shia base backing Hezbollah and the Syrian regime on the other, the security situation got out of hand this week and escalated into violent clashes that have not yet been contained.

It all started with the arrest of Shadi Mawlawi, a young Islamist and supporter of Syrian refugees in Tripoli, on charges of terrorism. His arrest led to violent clashes, resulting in the death of ten people. A week later, the Lebanese Army shot dead Sunni cleric Shaikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed and his companion at a checkpoint in the North, causing a wave of outrage that spread to the capital. Beirut went up in flames Sunday night, with Sunni protestors burning tires and cutting off roads.

On Wednesday, 13 Shia Lebanese were kidnapped in Syria - causing a similar wave of protests - this time by Shia residents in Beirut. Although Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah immediately gave a speech calling for calm, tensions are at an all-time high between Lebanon's Shia and Sunni communities. Smaller clashes in more controlled neighborhoods have contributed to their fears. On Wednesday night, a gun battle broke out near a pro-Syrian party office in Beirut and resulted in the death of two people. The details of the shootout are unclear, but some reports indicated it had links to an Qaeda-cell.

The events left many in the Sunni community feeling frustrated with the lack of accountability and political leadership. Equally troubling is a dwindling faith in the ability of the Lebanese army to protect all citizens. The loss of confidence in the army at such a critical time in Lebanon and the region may have serious consequences on the country. For one, smaller communities may feel encouraged to pick up arms. Indeed, Sunni extremists in Lebanon's North have warned that they would take justice in their own hands and form a "Free Lebanese Army" should government authorities fail to start an immediate investigation into the incident.

More and more Lebanese are now blaming the government authorities for the lack of security control. It may well be true that Lebanon has always been a playground for regional and domestic conflict, and the state has traditionally been too weak to enforce rule of law. However, this week's clashes brought attention to the important role of the Lebanese Army in those incidents. The March 14 coalition met today and blamed the government for offering political cover for the attacks and for compromising Lebanon's relations with Arab states. Last weekend, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait issued travel warnings on Lebanon. Saudi Arabia did not follow suit but the Saudi King issued a statement of concern of the attacks on Lebanon's Sunni community.

With much at stake for all parties, many in the Sunni community are questioning the role of Saad Hariri and whether he will assume a leadership role to counter that of Nasrallah. Tensions are leading supporters to demand more extreme showcase of power and identity - and it is moderates that are losing the fight. March 14 today are questioning the current government and calling for the formation of a "neutral salvation government" that would invite warring groups to engage in a dialogue. Such calls in the past have not brought dialogue, or peace, to Lebanon, but the Lebanese are right to question the role of authorities given the numerous security violations and loss of life.

The incidents in Lebanon cannot be separated from the backdrop of violence in the region. Months into the Syrian uprising, Syrian President Bashar Assad declared that any attempts to weaken his regime would lead to an earthquake that would "burn the whole region." Lebanon is closest to the conflict. The Lebanese would do better to avoid the fire, by holding the authorities and villains accountable, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring that justice take its course. Anything short of that will fail to put end to violence.