86 entries on 75 dates · the books disagree on 20
dates 1–60 of 75 next
May 1973
Tuesday, 1 May 1973
The road to war · From the books
Palestinian guerrillas abduct three Lebanese soldiers.
The May 1973 crisis began when members of the Popular and Democratic Fronts abducted three Lebanese soldiers as hostages for the release of detained Palestinians.
Sources differ: Kidnappers: PFLP and DFLP (Hanf) or DFLP (de Clerck & Malsagne).
\_this day in full \_on this day
June 1974
Saturday, 1 June 1974
The road to war · From the books
Compulsory military service is decreed, but not applied.
Lebanon's first conscription decree, of 1 June 1974, was put into effect only in 1983.
\_this day in full \_on this day
July 1975
Tuesday, 1 July 1975
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Lebanon had a new Government
The new Cabinet included the following 6 members Rachid Karameh - Prime Minister, Minster of Finance, National Defense, and Information. Camille Chamoun - Minister of Interior, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, and Hydraulic and Electric Resources. Adel Osseirane - Minster of Justice, Public Works, Economy and Trade Magid Arslane : Minster of Health, Agriculture, and Housing and Cooperatives. Philippe Takla - Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Education, and Plan. Ghassan Tueni - Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Tourism, and Industry and Oil. This government aimed, in a climate of daily fights and extreme tension, at dismantling barricades, taking away heavy armaments, suppressing defense positions, and reopening the roads.
What the books addHanf puts the cabinet's formation at the end of June and its announcement some two weeks before the 15 July confidence vote (83 for, none against, 16 Jumblatt supporters abstaining); Traboulsi's chronology gives 6 July. Neither the Kataeb nor Jumblatt was included. A cease-fire followed, which Traboulsi says was reached with Syrian mediators' help.
Other date in the books: Sunday, 6 July 1975
\_this day in full \_on this day
September 1975
Monday, 1 September 1975
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The army creates the Ansar brigade.
Under a Shiite commander and with mostly Shiite recruits, the Ansar brigade was a legal militia set up by the army to keep young Lebanese out of the Palestinian struggle.
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Egypt and Israel initial the Sinai II agreement.
Egypt and Israel initialled the Kissinger-brokered Sinai II accord. De Clerck and Malsagne judge it disastrous for Lebanon. For Hanf, it weakened Syria, which pressed the PLO for coordination, and deepened Palestinian fears of liquidation.
Sources differ: Initialled on 1 September (Hanf; de Clerck and Malsagne's chronology); de Clerck and Malsagne's narrative gives 4 September, the signature in Geneva.
Other date in the books: Thursday, 4 September 1975
\_this day in full \_on this day
December 1975
Monday, 1 December 1975
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Israelis attacked villages in the South
Israeli raids against Beddawi, Nahr El Bared, and Nabatyeh were more violent then ever. The attacks killed 111 persons and injured 140 others. Lebanon requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council, which met on December 5 and strongly condemned the raids against Lebanon.
\_this day in full \_on this day
January 1976
Thursday, 1 January 1976
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The explosion of the MEA Boeing in Saudi Arabia killed 82 persons, 40 of which were Lebanese.
This airplane flying from Beirut to Masqat via Dubai did not explode in the air, but while in the airport. An investigation was opened to determine the causes of the accident. The hypothesis of sabotage was not excluded.
\_this day in full \_on this day
May 1976
Saturday, 1 May 1976
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Despite the Damascus agreement, fights continued violently. The elections were postponed to May 8, the two candidates being Elias Sarkis and Raymond Eddeh.
What the books addAccounts differ. Hanf has Raymond Eddé stand 'on principle', protesting at outside manipulation, and so become the Left's candidate; Traboulsi and de Clerck and Malsagne have him boycott the vote, Traboulsi because it could not be free.
Other date in the books: Saturday, 8 May 1976
\_this day in full \_on this day
June 1976
Tuesday, 1 June 1976
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Syrian troops intervened in the Akkar region to raise the siege imposed on Kobeyate by officer Maamari from the 'Army of Arab Lebanon.' The Syrian contingent counted approximately 2000 men. 600 other soldiers entered the Bekaa region with over 200 tanks.
What the books addHistorians date the entry of Syrian regular troops to 1 June 1976 (Ménargues gives 9 June). President Assad announced it in the presence of the visiting Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin, citing appeals from the Akkar villages of Qubayat and Andaqit, besieged since January and attacked by the Lebanese Arab Army on 27 May. Columns moved towards Akkar and Tripoli, Zahleh and the Bekaa, and Sidon by way of Jezzine. Estimates of the force range from 6,000 men at the start (with 260 armoured vehicles, according to Ménargues) to 12,000-15,000 within weeks, with 250-300 tanks (de Clerck and Malsagne).
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 9 June 1976
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Syrian tanks enter Zahleh.
Bishop Bassul stepped in when Tajammu' fighters backed by Captain Tarek Nujaym ambushed Syrian tanks entering Zahleh, and the Syrians went on into the town. Fisk later found the Syrians and local Phalangists cooperating openly and Zahleh open to traffic.
\_this day in full \_on this day
July 1976
Thursday, 1 July 1976
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
While Palestinian camps were under attack and all fronts were on fire, Beirut was short of water, electricity, and medications. The situation was intolerable.
What the books addHanf dates Lebanese Front forces' capture of the Jisr al-Basha camp to this day; de Clerck and Malsagne give 29 June, Picard August.
\_this day in full \_on this day
October 1976
Friday, 1 October 1976
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
After they occupied the positions of the Palestinian Progressive forces in the Upper-Metn, the Lebanese Forces launched a new far-reaching attack against Aley, the main bastion of these forces. This new assault was be repelled on both axes, that of Bdedoun north-east of Aley, and that of Kahaleh north of the town.
What the books addHanf writes that Damascus thought the Christian side had won ground enough over the summer, so Syrian guns blocked the Lebanese Front's bid to cross the Beirut-Damascus road and take Aley. Kataeb fighters who had lost comrades at Aley the day before then killed Druze civilians at Salima (de Clerck and Malsagne).
\_this day in full \_on this day
August 1977
October 1977
Saturday, 1 October 1977
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
A US-Soviet declaration raises hopes of a Geneva peace conference (context).
A US-Soviet joint declaration called for the Palestinians' rights to be recognised and for normal relations among all the states concerned. American diplomacy earlier that year had already given the PLO grounds to moderate its stance; a new Geneva conference now seemed near.
\_this day in full \_on this day
February 1978
July 1978
Saturday, 1 July 1978
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
It is a blaze of fire ! Ain El Remmaneh was savagely bombed. 22 persons died and tens were injured. Syrian forces arrested Commander Bechir Gemayel then set him free.
What the books addHanf has Syrian guns shelling Ain el-Remmaneh on the day of mourning called after the Qaa killings, and the Syrian troops ignoring Sarkis's order to cease fire. Ménargues puts Bashir Gemayel's brief detention at a Syrian checkpoint at the end of July.
\_this day in full \_on this day
October 1978
November 1978
Wednesday, 1 November 1978
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
At Kornet Chehwane, a detachment of the army's intervention squad encircled the residence of Captain Sami Achkar accused of creating a dissident organization within the army. The officer was killed in the assault. The next day, Fouad Boutros, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, was attacked in Achrafieh and his bodyguards were kidnapped.
What the books addIn February 1978 Achkar had led the Lebanese soldiers in the clash with Syrian troops at Fayadiyeh; in October he left the army with about twenty men and founded a 'Revolutionary Lebanese Army Movement'. Boutros was due to fly with the president to the Arab summit in Baghdad when the Lebanese Forces, avenging Achkar, ambushed him on the way to the airport. Lieutenant Qozhaya Chamoun, who led the convoy, was abducted and later murdered; Boutros himself got away.
\_this day in full \_on this day
April 1979
May 1979
Tuesday, 1 May 1979
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
A big scientific study was concluded with 888 Lebanese who are 16 to 22 years old. The results were as follows: 73% of the Lebanese youth were interested in politics 91% read everyday one or two political newspapers 56% sympathized with parties 34% adhered to parties 32% had fought One girl out of eight carried arms
74% of the youth conceived their future in Lebanon only 40% were optimistic 37% saw their death directly tied to war
\_this day in full \_on this day
November 1979
December 1979
July 1980
November 1980
Saturday, 1 November 1980
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Safir press was dynamited in Hamra.
Ain el Remmaneh recovered its calm. The cease-fire concluded between the army and the Lebanese Forces was fully respected. Nevertheless, a profound discomfort persisted in the country at higher levels because the tension persisted, and the Army lost some of its credibility due to its withdrawal.
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Over 2000 persons watched the Marlboro Rally Mountain 1980.
\_this day in full \_on this day
March 1981
Sunday, 1 March 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The city of Saida went through a day of fear and anguish after four bombs fell in its busiest streets, and especially after Saad Haddad threatened to bomb the city. The next day, the fighting spread to Southern Lebanon.
\_this day in full \_on this day
May 1981
Friday, 1 May 1981
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Israel calls off a strike on the Syrian missiles.
Israel's planned air raid on the Syrian SAM batteries in the Bekaa was called off. Thick cloud had postponed the strike Begin ordered when, that evening, Washington urged him not to jeopardise Philip Habib's mission, and he reluctantly cancelled it.
\_this day in full \_on this day
June 1981
Monday, 1 June 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Blind bombardments hit the seaside resorts of Maameltein, Ouzaï and Manara. 18 people were killed and 270 were wounded.
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
According to a study by Maroun Baghdadi , more than 80 parties and political organizations were disputing the power or bits of the power in Lebanon. Among them organizations, committees, unions more or less homogeneous, more or less ephemerals, more or less clandestine; some were born with the war, others had disappeared because of it.
\_this day in full \_on this day
October 1981
Thursday, 1 October 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The horror record was broken. A car bomb devastated half of a street in the Boustani neighborhood in Tarik Jdideh killing 83 and injuring 225. Another car scheduled to explode a little bit later in the same area was defused.
What the books addThis bomb ended a wave of attacks (17 September to 2 October 1981, about 300 dead) that de Clerck and Malsagne, after Ronen Bergman, attribute to the 'Front for the Liberation of Lebanon from Foreigners', set up by Israeli officers; Bergman says its car bombs from October 1981 aimed to provoke the Palestinians into a reprisal that would justify an invasion.
Other date in the books: Thursday, 17 September 1981
\_this day in full \_on this day
February 1982
March 1982
Monday, 1 March 1982
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The adjournment of the meeting that the Arab Vigilance Committee was going to hold, irritated the Lebanese officials. The latter considered that the Arabs were careless about the explosive situation in Lebanon.
\_this day in full \_on this day
August 1982
Sunday, 1 August 1982
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The occupation of West Beirut turned into an annihilation war. Violent attacks killed 165 persons and wounded 400 others.
What the books addMénargues dates Israel's offensive to 2 August: 48 hours of non-stop artillery fire (280,000 shells and bombs, on Israel's own count), then ground attacks at the museum, the port and Bir Hassan, which were halted.
Other dates in the books: Monday, 2 August 1982, Wednesday, 4 August 1982
\_this day in full \_on this day
September 1982
Wednesday, 1 September 1982
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The last Palestinian fighters left Lebanon. In 12 days, 10,876 Fedayin and 2,700 Syrian soldiers had left the Lebanese territory.
What the books addCounts of those evacuated between 21 August and 1 September differ: 14,398 Palestinians and Syrians, including 664 women and children of PLO cadres (de Clerck and Malsagne); 14,938 Palestinians by 30 August (Ménargues); about 15,000 by sea plus 6,500 Syrian and PLA soldiers by land (Hanf). On 1 September President Reagan announced his peace plan.
Art and memory- book Abou Zaki shows how Lebanon's Palestinians, among the war's chief losers, are blamed as its chief culprits. In 2008 the Palestinian Authority formally apologised to the Lebanese state for wrongs done, notably in 1975-1982.
Other dates in the books: Saturday, 21 August 1982, Monday, 30 August 1982
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
President-elect Bashir Gemayel meets Menachem Begin in northern Israel.
Facing Begin, with Sharon and Shamir beside him, Bashir asked for six to nine months to consolidate his power before any early peace treaty; Traboulsi says he left humiliated. The meeting leaked within days; he denied it.
Sources differ: Place: Nahariya (Ménargues) or Natania (Traboulsi); leak reported on 2 September (Traboulsi) or 3 September (Ménargues).
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
President Reagan announces a new Middle East peace plan.
Begin rejected it out of hand and Damascus saw it as a bid to decide without Syria. It began with a settlement freeze and aimed at autonomy for West Bank and Gaza Palestinians 'in association with Jordan'.
\_this day in full \_on this day
December 1982
Wednesday, 1 December 1982
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Joumblatt escaped a killing attempt that resulted in 3 dead and 42 injuries.
What the books addThe attempt on Walid Jumblatt left him only slightly hurt. Hanf sees it as one more spur to Druze mobilisation, which put about 30,000 men under arms.
\_this day in full \_on this day
March 1983
Tuesday, 1 March 1983
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The Lebanese Forces agree to place East Beirut and the port's fifth basin under state control.
Given guarantees by President Gemayel, the Lebanese Forces returned control of East Beirut to the state, along with the port's fifth basin, which had brought in about a fifth of their income.
Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne give 1 March 1983 here but 'spring 1983' elsewhere (p. 351); original entry 654 dates the state's recovery of the fifth basin to 7 March.
\_this day in full \_on this day
May 1983
Sunday, 1 May 1983
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
While the American Secretary of Sate, George Shultz was undertaking a forcing to reach an agreement between Israel and Lebanon, the mountain went again on fire. The Lebanese Forces and the PSP resumed their combats. The bombardments reached the Kesrouan coastline. They continued in the days to follow causing tens of victims.
\_this day in full \_on this day
September 1983
Thursday, 1 September 1983
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
During the month of September, atrocious massacres were perpetrated against Christian and Druze civilians in the Chouf.
What the books addMassacres were committed on both sides: Druze fighters killed Christians at Bmaryam, Bhamdoun, Ma'asir al-Chouf and many other villages, and Lebanese Forces fighters killed Druze at Kfarmatta and in villages on their line of retreat. For September to December 1983 de Clerck and Malsagne give more than 1,500 Christians and 207 Druze massacred, 324 PSP and 368 Lebanese Forces fighters dead, and over 163,000 Christians driven from the region. Traboulsi gives 62 villages destroyed, Hanf about sixty.
Art and memory- memorial Fakhreddine's equestrian statue, put up by the government at Baakline in 1974 and seen as serving the Christian establishment, was dynamited by PSP fighters in 1983.
\_this day in full \_on this day
October 1983
Saturday, 1 October 1983
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Walid Jumblatt sets up the Civil Administration of the Mountain.
Walid Jumblatt created the Civil Administration of the Mountain to run public services in the Druze-controlled areas. Based at Beiteddine palace and lasting until 1991, it mirrored most government ministries and divided the Mountain into five districts. The government accused him of setting up a Druze canton.
Art and memory- place The PSP took over Emir Bashir II's palace at Beiteddine in 1983. Renamed the 'People's Palace', it housed Walid Jumblatt's Civil Administration of the Mountain until 1990 and received a bust of Kamal Jumblatt and a memorial to PSP martyrs. The state regained it in February 1999.
\_this day in full \_on this day
December 1983
Thursday, 1 December 1983
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Sheikh Halim Takieddine, Chief of the Druze religious law courts was assassinated; this triggered great emotions in political and religious spheres in Beirut.
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Shelling kills 15 people in besieged Deir el-Qamar.
Shelling killed 15 people in besieged Deir el-Qamar, where no aid was allowed in.
\_this day in full \_on this day
February 1984
Wednesday, 1 February 1984
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The army tries to push into Beirut's southern suburbs.
To sever the link between West Beirut's Shi'i militias and the Chouf Druze, the army set out on 1 February to push into the southern suburbs. Fisk, at Galerie Semaan, found soldiers and Phalangists fighting side by side against Shi'i militiamen in the Bourj al-Barajneh slums.
\_this day in full \_on this day
March 1984
Thursday, 1 March 1984
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The USSR vetoes a UN force to replace the MNF.
A Soviet veto in the Security Council killed France's proposal for UN troops to replace the Multinational Force.
\_this day in full \_on this day
May 1984
Tuesday, 1 May 1984
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Pope John Paul II devotes three letters to Lebanon.
On 1 May 1984 John Paul II issued three letters about Lebanon, addressed to its people, the world's Catholic bishops and Maronite Patriarch Antoine Khoraiche. The Patriarch's letter faulted him for not uniting the Christians around reconciliation.
\_this day in full \_on this day
August 1984
Wednesday, 1 August 1984
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
A catastrophe was avoided at the Beirut International Airport where an Air France Boeing 737, hijacked during its flight from Frankfurt to Paris, was authorized to land in Beirut. The negotiations with the Lebanese authorities failed and the engine flew back amid general confusion. It almost hit several firefighter vehicles that were parked across the runway in order to prevent the airplane from moving.
\_this day in full \_on this day
January 1985
Tuesday, 1 January 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
It is a bad beginning of the year for the Lebanese. Beirut was still divided in two, the problem of kidnapped and disappeared persons was unsolved, the fighting continued in the mountain between the Army and the PSP. In South Lebanon, the assault-reprisal cycle continued.
What the books addFisk's figures for December 1984 alone: some hundred attacks on Israeli forces in the south, with three Israeli soldiers, seventeen of Lahad's militiamen and eight collaborators killed.
\_this day in full \_on this day
February 1985
April 1985
Monday, 1 April 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The region of Saida was heavily bombarded. Artillery duels opposed the Lebanese Forces on the one hand, to local antigovernment militias and army units that don't follow the commandment of Yarzeh on the other.
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 24 April 1985
\_this day in full \_on this day
July 1985
January 1986
Wednesday, 1 January 1986
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
It is a bad beginning of the year for the Lebanese Forces. A conflict emerged within the party, causing exchanges of rockets and gunshots in Zalka and Nahr El Mott. Ten persons were killed or wounded. The signature by Elie Hobeika of the tripartite agreement in Damascus, triggered the fight.
What the books addHanf says that once the Tripartite Agreement had been signed, on 28 December 1985, Hobeika turned Lebanese Forces units against militias loyal to President Gemayel and the Kataeb.
\_this day in full \_on this day
February 1986
August 1986
February 1987
Sunday, 1 February 1987
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The MEA suspended its flights therefore causing a de facto closing of the Beirut International Airport, while the few companies that were still flying into the airport (Soviet, Czech, and Bulgarian) decided to cancel their flights.
\_this day in full \_on this day
June 1987
Monday, 1 June 1987
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Prime Minister Rachid Karameh was assassinated, torn to shreds by the explosion on the helicopter that was supposed to take him from Tripoli to West-Beirut. However, his post as Chief of the Cabinet did not remain vacant: Selim Hoss was designated by presidential decree as the interim Chief of Government.
What the books addKarami had announced his resignation on 4 May. Who was responsible is disputed: Hanf (1993) writes that it was never established who planted the bomb in the army helicopter; de Clerck and Malsagne report that it was attributed to Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces, and Picard notes that Geagea was later tried for it. Selim al-Hoss, Minister of Education, became acting prime minister; the cabinet never met again and governed by circulated decrees.
Art and memory- testimony Hamra Street vendors were still selling cassettes of Rashid Karami's speeches on national unity and Lebanon's Arab identity over two years after his assassination, Fisk notes.
\_this day in full \_on this day
July 1987
September 1987
January 1988
Friday, 1 January 1988
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Al-Mashreq, the country's second-largest bank, collapses.
Early in 1988 Al-Mashreq, the country's second-biggest bank, went bankrupt, throwing the banking system into a serious crisis. De Clerck links the bank's difficulties to the collapse, at the end of 1988, of the Kataeb financial network managed by Roger Tamraz.
\_this day in full \_on this day
August 1988
February 1989
Wednesday, 1 February 1989
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Presidents Hoss, Husseini, and General Aoun did not come up with an agreement in Tunis.
What the books addHanf: Aoun told the Tunis meeting he could settle Lebanese differences himself once Syria withdrew; Hoss and Husseini put reform first.
\_this day in full \_on this day
October 1989
Sunday, 1 October 1989
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Lebanese deputies begin their Taif conclave, opened by Saudi Arabia's foreign minister.
Former speaker Husseini chaired the session, which Prince Saud al-Faisal opened by insisting that it must not fail. Hanf puts attendance at 62 deputies, split evenly between Christians and Muslims, some living in Lebanon and others in exile in France, Switzerland or Iraq; de Clerck and Malsagne give 63.
Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne date the meeting to 30 September with 63 deputies; Hanf dates the opening to 1 October with 62. The original entry 1155 has 30 September.
Other date in the books: Saturday, 30 September 1989
\_this day in full \_on this day
November 1989
February 1990
Thursday, 1 February 1990
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Residents of the Syriac quarter take refuge in a hospital basement.
The service basements of the Hôtel-Dieu de France in East Beirut sheltered 150 people from the Syriac quarter on the night of 1-2 February. Staff worked day and night for several days, then lived in the hospital until July.
Art and memory- testimony Emilie Rizk's Confluences article on the Rizk hospital cites the Hôtel-Dieu de France nursing sisters: during the 1990 fighting in East Beirut the hospital sheltered people from the Syriac quarter, and staff lived there until July.
\_this day in full \_on this day
March 1990
Thursday, 1 March 1990
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Army push on Sin el-Fil and Nabaa; the intra-Christian war ends in deadlock.
Short of ammunition, and facing hard militia resistance in mined streets and houses, Aoun's troops stalled in Sin el-Fil and Nabaa. After little more than a month the war of movement became a stalemate, with Jbeil, Kisrawan, Ashrafieh and Karantina left to the Lebanese Forces, and the Metn, the Baabda area and the coast from Beirut to the Dog River to the army.
\_this day in full \_on this day
April 1990
May 1990
dates 1–60 of 75 next
