Why did Hezbollah take control of parts of Beirut in 2008?

In May 2008, Hezbollah took control of parts of Beirut following a period of intense political stalemate and factional conflict between the Hezbollah-led opposition (the March 8 bloc) and the Western-backed government (the March 14 bloc).12

The immediate trigger for the violence was a series of government decisions, most notably plans to dismantle Hezbollah’s private telecommunications network. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah interpreted these actions as a declaration of war, prompting him to mobilize forces that quickly seized control of sections of the city.12

The conflict ended after the government reversed the controversial decisions. Subsequently, representatives from the opposing factions met in Qatar, where they reached an agreement that granted the Hezbollah-led opposition the veto power it had been seeking within the government.12