High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2008 conflict in Lebanon began on May 7, after Lebanon`s 17-month long political crisis spiraled out of control. The fighting was sparked by a government move to shut down Hezbollah`s telecommunication network and remove Beirut Airport`s security chief Wafic Shkeir over alleged ties to Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the government`s decision to declare the group`s military telecommunications network illegal was a "declaration of war" on the organization, and demanded that the government revoke it.