Druze leaders are divided over what appeared to be a Syrian attempt to bypass their officially recognised leadership in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Druze leaders clashed on Twitter at the weekend over what appeared to be Syrian interference against their authority.
But later those officials abruptly deleted the messages and urged supporters to remain calm.
Last week, unconfirmed reports said that Syria blocked access to any Lebanese Druze leader who tried to enter the country without an ID card signed by Sheikh Nasreddine Al Gharib, who is close to pro-Syrian Druze politicians.
The religious leader of those in Lebanon is Sheikh Naim Hassan, head of the Druze Spiritual Council, who is supported by Lebanon’s main Druze leader and relentless critic of Damascus, Walid Jumblatt.