Libanon

A week of unprecedented Lebanese street protests against the political class showed few signs of abating Wednesday, with thousands again gathering across the country, braving rain and a heavy military deployment.

Lebanese Christian groups are increasingly worried that their hard-won position in the country is under threat from an influx of Syrians that could permanently alter the balance of power. With more than 1.5 million refugees draining the tiny country's resources, memories are still fresh of the 15-year civil war that was sparked in part by Lebanon's inability to absorb an influx of mostly Muslim Palestinian refugees.

Hezbollah holds three cabinet seats, and along with its allies has more power than ever in the parliament and government. It is also among the most effective armed groups in the region, extending Iran's influence to Israel's doorstep. Domestically, the group's power exceeds that of the Lebanese armed forces.

A UN-backed court based in the Netherlands unveiled new charges Monday, including terrorism and intentional homicide, against a Hezbollah fighter who also is accused of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

Hezbollah said it downed an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon in another flare-up raising tensions between the Iran-backed group and Israel.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has openly threatened Israel with attacks as the group has increased its military might. Two weeks before Israeli parliamentary elections, the risk of war is growing.

Lebanon is struggling with one of the world's heaviest public debt burdens, at about 150 percent of GDP. … On Monday, Lebanon declared a "state of economic emergency", with Hariri saying the government would take emergency measures to speed up economic reforms to help overcome a worsening crisis.

Incident comes days after alleged Israeli drone crashed in a southern Beirut suburb while another exploded nearby.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at critics following a series of alleged air strikes across the Middle East. Mr Netanyahu also accused Iran of producing "terror attacks" and said Israel would defend itself "by any means necessary". It comes after reports of strikes against Iranian targets and Iran-backed militias in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. … Israel has put its military on high alert along its frontiers with Syria and Lebanon.

The Israeli military carried out air strikes on a Palestinian militant group backed by Syria's government in eastern Lebanon overnight, Lebanese media say. A position of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command near Qusaya was hit, the state-run National News Agency reported. The group responded with a barrage of anti-aircraft fire, it added.