Tuesday January 15, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

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A bomb exploded in the Dora area of Beirut in what appeared to have been aimed at a US Embassy vehicle. The bomb killed three people in the vicinity, none were from the US Embassy.

Lebanese soldiers block off the area shortly after the explosion.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Tuesday October 7, 2008, Tripoli, Northern Lebanon, Lebanon

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Palestinians from the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon hold a wedding outside of a UNRWA schol in the nearby Baddawi refugee camp. Palestinian refugees from Nahr al-Bared were made refugees, again, after fighting broke out between an extremist group called Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in May 2007. Nahr al-Bared's 35,000 fled the camp and many were forced to live in schools and social centers in the nearby Baddawi refugee camp.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Wednesday June 25, 2008, Sidon, Lebanon

Fatah-led security forces keep order in Ain al-Hilweh

Just outside the southern Lebanese city of Sidon in lies the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Home to over 70,000 Palestinians living in on one and a half square kilometers of land, Ain al-Hilweh is the largest of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps, which in total contain half of Lebanon's 400,000 Palestinian refugees. Lebanon's Palestinian refugees fled to their northern neighbor in 1948 when the state of Israel was created. Since 1948, many Palestinian refugees from other camps in Lebanon have had to seek refuge, again, in Ain al-Hilweh to escape the violence of Lebanon's recent history. Most recently was the 2007 battle between militants from Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in the northern Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. The battle left the camp in ruins and made some 35,000 refugees homeless. Many blame the battle in Nahr al-Bared on a lack of security in the camp that allowed Fatah al-Islam, a group made up of many foreign fighters, to train and operate. After the war, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah party, the dominant member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), has worked with the Lebanese army to ensure that order be maintained in all 12 camps. In Ain al-Hilweh especially, where radical Islamist groups are on the rise, Fatah-led security forces called "Kifah al-Massulah" (armed struggle) are operating as a police force within the camp. The Lebanese army is forbidden from entering any of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon under the 1969 Cairo Agreement signed by the PLO and the Lebanese government.

A young boy stands by a member of the Kifah al-Mussalah security forces in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday December 14, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Zabaleen engagement party

In the Moqattam area of greater Cairo, Egyptians hold an engagement party. This particular community are referred to as the "Zabaleen," or trash collectors. Mostly Coptic Christians, the Zabaleen are responsible for collecting and recycling most of Cairo's waste. Weddings, engagement parties, and other events are celebrated in the neighborhood streets. Food, alcohol and hashish were served to people who came to celebrate the occasion while music played and three belly dancers performed for the all-male crowd.

Three belly dancers hired to perform for the occasion perform on stage.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Saturday January 19, 2008, Nabatieh, Lebanon

Lebanon's Shia Muslims celebrate Ashura

The Ashura ceremony commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Shi'a mark the day with self-flagellation to honor the suffering which Imam Hussain is said to have experienced before his death. Although Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, has banned the spilling of blood during Ashura commemorations, many, especially followers of the Amal movement in the southern city of Nabatieh, still pracitice the ritual.

In preparation to march, celebrators cut their heads, some with razor blades and some with larger knives or swords.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday December 8, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Egyptians celebrate Feast of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the major Islamic holidays that falls the day after the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Across the world Muslims celebrate the holiday by sacrificing an animal, which is then shared with family, friends and others in the community. In Cairo, Egpyt, thousands of Muslims attend a prayer service early in the morning before heading home to prepare for the feast later in the day. Around the city, the slaughtering of animals, mostly sheep, goats and cows, becomes a public event outside butcher shops and homes. In the southern Cairo suburb of Helwan, butchers slaughter animals for the Eid al-Adha holiday. People bring animals, which are then slaughtered and delivered to families in the community to be sure that each family will eat meat on the holiday.

Ali, a butcher in Helwan cuts up a slaughtered goat.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday December 8, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Egyptians celebrate Eid

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the major Islamic holidays that falls the day after the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Across the world Muslims celebrate the holiday by sacrificing an animal, which is then shared with family, friends and others in the community. In Cairo, Egpyt, thousands of Muslims attend a prayer service early in the morning before heading home to prepare for the feast later in the day. Around the city, the slaughtering of animals, mostly sheep, goats and cows, becomes a public event outside butcher shops and homes.

Egyptian Muslims worshippers speak with each other at the Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in the Mohandeseen neighborhood of Cairo on the morning of Eid al-Adha after just finishing the morning prayer.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Friday July 18, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Hezbollah buries fighters killed in 2006 war

As part of a prisoner exchange with Israel, the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah received five prisoners and the bodies of almost 200 Lebanese, Palestinian and other Arab fighters killed in recent decades. In return, Hezbollah offered the bodies of two Israelis soldiers. Among the 200 bodies, were eight Hezbollah fighters killed during the 2006 war. Thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered in the Dahiyeh southern suburbs of Beirut to hold a funeral for the eight fighters before they would be sent to their hometowns throughout Lebanon.

Female relatives of the eight fighters killed during the 2006 war with Israel hold framed photographs while mourning at their funeral.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday May 26, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Nasrallah addresses Hezbollah rally

Hezbollah supporters rallied in the Dahiyeh southern suburb to watch a televised speech from General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah and celebrate the 8th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The rally comes just one day after Lebanon elected Michel Suleiman to fill the presidency that had been vacant for six months prior. In his speech, Nasrallah praised the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance against Israel and also made statements supporting the anti-US resistance in Iraq.

A Hezbollah member passes out Lebanese flags during rally

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Friday September 21, 2007, Beirut, Lebanon

Funeral for assassinated Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem

On Wednesday 19 September 2007, a large blast rocked Beirut's Sin el-Fil neighborhood. Reports later confirmed that anti-Syrian parliament member Antoine Ghanem from the Christian Phalange party along with three others had been killed in the blast. Two days later, the funeral for Ghanem took place in the Furn el-Sheback neighborhood of Beirut where Ghanem and the Phalange draw much support. Phalange supporters as well as high-profile members of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority attended the service.

A Maronite priest marches in the funeral.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday July 14, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Clashes erupt in Beirut

After labor protests by the Hezbollah-led opposition, Lebanon remains tense as conflict between pro-government and pro-opposition forces erupt in the streets. Road blocks continued by pro-opposition forces and in the Cornish al-Mezraa neighborhood militants from the opposition-aligned Shia Amal movement clashed with militants from the Sunni government-aligned Future party who fired back from the densely populated neighborhood, Tariq al-Jadide.

Rival gunmen fire at eachother on Beirut's sreets

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday July 6, 2008, Tyre, Lebanon

French UNIFIL troops monitor southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was created by the UN in 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and to restore international peace and security. Soldiers from 28 countries now make up UNIFIL deployed in Southern Lebanon along the Blue Line, the border between Israel and Lebanon. UNIFIL monitors activity between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces with the aim of reducing tensions along the border. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, France increased its UNIFIL commitment from 400 to 2,000 soldiers and sent Leclerc heavy tanks and AMX 30 AuF1 self-propelled artillery to the area.

Lieutenant Stephanie Lugrin, Press Officer at the UNIFIL French Camp "2.45" in al-Tiri in southern Lebanon.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Wednesday May 28, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Hezbollah celebrates anniversary of Israeli withdrawl

Hezbollah supporters rally in the Dahiyeh suburbs of southern Beirut, where they watched a televised speech from the movement's General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah. The rally was called for by the Lebanese political movement to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah and its supporters say was a victory over Israel. The rally comes just one day after Lebanon elected Michel Suleiman to fill the presidency that had been vacant for six months, and weeks after armed clashes in Beirut and throughout Lebanon that left 65 people dead. In his speech, Nasrallah praised the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance against Israel and also made statements supporting the anti-U.S. resistance in Iraq.

Residents from the area where the rally is held look out from their balconies.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Wednesday May 28, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Hezbollah celebrates anniversary of Israeli withdrawl

Hezbollah supporters rally in the Dahiyeh suburbs of southern Beirut, where they watched a televised speech from the movement's General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah. The rally was called for by the Lebanese political movement to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah and its supporters say was a victory over Israel. The rally comes just one day after Lebanon elected Michel Suleiman to fill the presidency that had been vacant for six months, and weeks after armed clashes in Beirut and throughout Lebanon that left 65 people dead. In his speech, Nasrallah praised the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance against Israel and also made statements supporting the anti-U.S. resistance in Iraq.

A female Hezbollah guard dressed in a black chador watches over the women's section during the speech. Supporters in the crowd wave flags.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Thursday May 8, 2008, Lebanon

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After a day of labor protests by the Hizballah-led opposition workers' union, Lebanon remained tense as a conflict between pro-government and pro-opposition forces seemed inevitable. Road blocks continued by pro-opposition forces throughout Wednesday and into Thursday. It was after a late afternoon press conference by Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah that the situation quickly escalated. Soon after the conference concluded, clashes erupted throughout Beirut. In the Cornish al-Mezraa neighborhood Shia militants from the opposition-aligned Amal movement clashed with Sunni militants from the government-aligned Future party who fired back from the densely populated neighborhood of Tariq al-Jadide. Many Lebanese are saying the events were reminiscent of the country's blooy 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. PICTURED: Amal militants carrying Kalishnakovs and rocket-propelled grenade launches take cover and trade shots with Future militants across the Cornish al-Mezraa street in Beirut. The fighting lasted from 5:30 pm on Thursday and throughout the night.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday May 26, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut concert for new president

One day after Michel Suleiman was elected Lebanon's president, a concert was held featuring famed Lebanese singer, Haifa Wahbe. The "non-political" concert was held where opposition forces removed a protest camp in place since December 2006 that paralyzed downtown Beirut. As Wahbe began to sing, the crowd rushed the stage knocking over barricades set up by the police and she was rushed out and the concert ended.

Young Lebanese celebrating the election of Michel Suleiman and waiting for Haifa Wahbe to perform in downtown Beirut.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Thursday May 8, 2008, Lebanon

Matthew Cassel portfolio

After a day of labor protests by the Hizballah-led opposition workers' union, Lebanon remained tense as a conflict between pro-government and pro-opposition forces seemed inevitable. Road blocks continued by pro-opposition forces throughout Wednesday and into Thursday. It was after a late afternoon press conference by Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah that the situation quickly escalated. Soon after the conference concluded, clashes erupted throughout Beirut. In the Cornish al-Mezraa neighborhood Shia militants from the opposition-aligned Amal movement clashed with Sunni militants from the government-aligned Future party who fired back from the densely populated neighborhood of Tariq al-Jadide. Many Lebanese are saying the events were reminiscent of the country's blooy 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. PICTURED: Amal militants carrying Kalishnakovs and rocket-propelled grenade launches take cover and trade shots with Future militants across the Cornish al-Mezraa street in Beirut. The fighting lasted from 5:30 pm on Thursday and throughout the night.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday December 14, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Zabaleen engagement party

In the Moqattam area of greater Cairo, Egyptians hold an engagement party. This particular community are referred to as the "Zabaleen," or trash collectors. Mostly Coptic Christians, the Zabaleen are responsible for collecting and recycling most of Cairo's waste. Weddings, engagement parties, and other events are celebrated in the neighborhood streets. Food, alcohol and hashish were served to people who came to celebrate the occasion while music played and three belly dancers performed for the all-male crowd.

A man smokes a hashish joint.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday May 25, 2008, Lebanon

Matthew Cassel portfolio

After 18 months of political deadlock, Lebanon's feuding political coalitions have come to an agreement by selecting Michel Suleiman as the new president to fill the seat left open by Emile Lahoud who stepped down at the end of his extended-term in November 2007. Lebanon has been at tense standoff over the past year between the Governing pro-Western March 14 coalition and the March 8 opposition led by the Syrian and Iranian backed group, Hizballah. The selection of Suleiman came as a result of talks in Qatar between the various Lebanese political parties who met to put an end to the political deadlock, which escalated into violence throughout Lebanon that left over 60 dead during a 6-day period in May. This was the worst violence Lebanon has seen since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war. Pictured: Michel Suleiman enters the Lebanese parliament after being elected president.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday May 25, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon standoff ends with election of new president

After 18 months of deadlock, Lebanon's feuding political coalitions selected Michel Suleiman as president to replace Emile Lahoud who resigned in November 2007. Lebanon has been at tense standoff between the governing pro-Western March 14 coalition and the March 8 opposition led by the Syrian and Iranian backed group, Hizballah. The selection of Suleiman came after talks in Qatar between the political parties who met to put an end to the deadlock, which escalated into violence that left over 60 dead during in May.

Lebanese soldiers stand guard outside the Lebanese Parliament and next to the red carpet to welcome newly elected president

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday July 14, 2008, Beirut

Beirut's Cafe Doughan

In the heart of Beirut's Tariq Ejdide neighborhood is Cafe Doughan, which has been in existence since the 1920s. Tariq Ejdide is one of the most densely populated Sunni Muslim areas of Beirut and it is where Sunni leader of the March 14 coalition, Saad Hariri, draws much of his support.

A man smokes inside Beirut's Cafe Doughan, where posters of Rafiq Hariri still adorn the walls.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday July 6, 2008, Tyre, Lebanon

Christianity in Tyre

The ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, in southern Lebanon, is the country's fourth largest city. Christianity arrived in the area with the early Christians and the missions of St. Paul in the mid first century. The number of Christians throughout Lebanon is disputed due to a lack of an official census in Lebanon since 1932. The most common estimate of Christianity in Lebanon is about 40% making it the largest percentage of Christians of all the Middle Eastern nations.

Archbishop Jean Haddad of the Greek Catholic Church in Tyre, greets churchgoers after Sunday services.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Wednesday May 28, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Hezbollah celebrates anniversary of Israeli withdrawl

Hezbollah supporters rally in the Dahiyeh suburbs of southern Beirut, where they watched a televised speech from the movement's General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah. The rally was called for by the Lebanese political movement to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah and its supporters say was a victory over Israel. The rally comes just one day after Lebanon elected Michel Suleiman to fill the presidency that had been vacant for six months, and weeks after armed clashes in Beirut and throughout Lebanon that left 65 people dead. In his speech, Nasrallah praised the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance against Israel and also made statements supporting the anti-U.S. resistance in Iraq.

Hezbollah supporters wave flags during the rally.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Sunday May 25, 2008, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon standoff ends with election of new president

After 18 months of deadlock, Lebanon's feuding political coalitions selected Michel Suleiman as president to replace Emile Lahoud who resigned in November 2007. Lebanon has been at tense standoff between the governing pro-Western March 14 coalition and the March 8 opposition led by the Syrian and Iranian backed group, Hizballah. The selection of Suleiman came after talks in Qatar between the political parties who met to put an end to the deadlock, which escalated into violence that left over 60 dead during in May.

Lebanese soldiers stand guard outside the Lebanese Parliament as elections take place to a president.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Wednesday June 25, 2008, Sidon, Lebanon

Fatah-led security forces keep order in Ain al-Hilweh

Just outside the southern Lebanese city of Sidon in lies the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Home to over 70,000 Palestinians living in on one and a half square kilometers of land, Ain al-Hilweh is the largest of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps, which in total contain half of Lebanon's 400,000 Palestinian refugees. Lebanon's Palestinian refugees fled to their northern neighbor in 1948 when the state of Israel was created. Since 1948, many Palestinian refugees from other camps in Lebanon have had to seek refuge, again, in Ain al-Hilweh to escape the violence of Lebanon's recent history. Most recently was the 2007 battle between militants from Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in the northern Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. The battle left the camp in ruins and made some 35,000 refugees homeless. Many blame the battle in Nahr al-Bared on a lack of security in the camp that allowed Fatah al-Islam, a group made up of many foreign fighters, to train and operate. After the war, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah party, the dominant member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), has worked with the Lebanese army to ensure that order be maintained in all 12 camps. In Ain al-Hilweh especially, where radical Islamist groups are on the rise, Fatah-led security forces called "Kifah al-Massulah" (armed struggle) are operating as a police force within the camp. The Lebanese army is forbidden from entering any of the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon under the 1969 Cairo Agreement signed by the PLO and the Lebanese government.

Head of Fatah security and Kifah al-Mussalah in Lebanon, Mounir Maqdah, at his home in Ain al-Hilweh.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday December 8, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Egyptians celebrate Feast of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the major Islamic holidays that falls the day after the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Across the world Muslims celebrate the holiday by sacrificing an animal, which is then shared with family, friends and others in the community. In Cairo, Egpyt, thousands of Muslims attend a prayer service early in the morning before heading home to prepare for the feast later in the day. Around the city, the slaughtering of animals, mostly sheep, goats and cows, becomes a public event outside butcher shops and homes. In the southern Cairo suburb of Helwan, butchers slaughter animals for the Eid al-Adha holiday. People bring animals, which are then slaughtered and delivered to families in the community to be sure that each family will eat meat on the holiday.

A young butcher cuts up a slaughtered goat for the Eid holiday next to a home in Helwan.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Tuesday August 14, 2007, Lebanon

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14 August 2007 marks exactly one year after the end of the war between Israel and Hizbollah in what is often referred to as the July War. Tens of thousands of Hizbollah supporters came out to celebrate the anniversary which Hizbollah celebrates as a victory over Israel.

Hizballah supports cheer Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah deliver his speech in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Thursday May 8, 2008, Lebanon

Matthew Cassel portfolio

After a day of labor protests by the Hizballah-led opposition workers' union, Lebanon remained tense as a conflict between pro-government and pro-opposition forces seemed inevitable. Road blocks continued by pro-opposition forces throughout Wednesday and into Thursday. It was after a late afternoon press conference by Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah that the situation quickly escalated. Soon after the conference concluded, clashes erupted throughout Beirut. In the Cornish al-Mezraa neighborhood Shia militants from the opposition-aligned Amal movement clashed with Sunni militants from the government-aligned Future party who fired back from the densely populated neighborhood of Tariq al-Jadide. Many Lebanese are saying the events were reminiscent of the country's blooy 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. PICTURED: Amal militants carrying Kalishnakovs and rocket-propelled grenade launches take cover and trade shots with Future militants across the Cornish al-Mezraa street in Beirut. The fighting lasted from 5:30 pm on Thursday and throughout the night.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Monday December 8, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

Egyptians celebrate Eid

Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the major Islamic holidays that falls the day after the hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Across the world Muslims celebrate the holiday by sacrificing an animal, which is then shared with family, friends and others in the community. In Cairo, Egpyt, thousands of Muslims attend a prayer service early in the morning before heading home to prepare for the feast later in the day. Around the city, the slaughtering of animals, mostly sheep, goats and cows, becomes a public event outside butcher shops and homes.

Egyptian Muslims worshippers pray at the Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in the Mohandeseen neighborhood of Cairo on the morning of Eid al-Adha.

Credit: Matthew Cassel / Polaris

Matthew Cassel