In Beirut bombing aftermath, many ask why IS didn't strike earlier

(The Christian Science Monitor) Hezbollah's military support for Syria's regime, which is fighting a mainly Sunni Muslim armed opposition, has divided Lebanon. But since June 2014, when a year-long bombing campaign ended, the war next door hasn't afflicted the Shi'ite militant group's strongholds in Lebanon. 

That changed Thursday evening, when a double suicide bombing left at least 43 people dead and more than 230 wounded. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State, targeted a district long dominated by Hezbollah.

But for many in Beirut's mainly Shi'ite southern suburbs, the suicide bombings were not unexpected. Rather, the surprise was why there was such a long gap since the last attack 17 months ago. And fears are running high of a fresh wave of sectarian attacks on their communities.