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BEIRUT, Dec. 13-- Local experts rule out the possibility of a new civil war amid Lebanon's occasional clashes between protesters and the two Shiite political parties Hezbollah and Amal Movement. "There will be no civil war because no one is ready to confront Hezbollah," Hilal Khashan, chair of the Political Studies Department at the American University of Beirut, told Xinhua. "When groups such as Hezbollah and Amal come under pressure it is likely that they will respond. This is why clashes took place with protesters but it is unlikely for any conflict to happen between these groups and the army, for instance," Khashan explained while adding that the army is highly aware of the repercussions of such incidents. Khashan noted that the United States supports the Lebanese army which made it clear on several occasions that they won't be attacking Hezbollah. Lebanon has been witnessing nationwide protests since Oct. 17 with several clashes erupting between the two Shiite political parties, Hezbollah and Amal Movement, on the one hand, and protesters who are supported by other parties such as the Lebanese Forces, Future Movement, Progressive Socialist Party and Kataeb Party on the other hand. Demonstrations were held all over Lebanon to protest against the current political ruling class which was accused by protesters of being corrupted while leading the country into an economic collapse due to its failed policies over the past 30 years. | 
