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chronologiesallThe road to war 1968–1974 The Lebanese war 1975–1990 After the war 1991–2005 July 2006, as the books tell it 2006 Since 2005 2005–2025

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34 entries on 33 dates · the books disagree on 34

April 1969

Wednesday, 23 April 1969

The road to war · From the books

Security forces fire on pro-Palestinian demonstrations; Karami resigns.
Prime Minister Rashid Karami resigned after violent protests, notably in Tripoli: in Beirut and Sidon the army and security forces had fired on mass demonstrations backing the Palestinian resistance, leaving dead and wounded, and in Sidon a march from Ain al-Hilweh camp became an army-commando battle. A cabinet crisis of over seven months followed.

Sources differ: Hanf places Karami's resignation after President Helou's television address of 6 May; Traboulsi and de Clerck & Malsagne put it on or right after 23 April. The length of the crisis is 215 days (Traboulsi) or 216 days (de Clerck & Malsagne). Hanf names Sidon and Ain al-Hilweh; Traboulsi Sidon and Beirut; de Clerck & Malsagne Beirut.

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March 1970

Monday, 23 March 1970

The road to war · From the books

A Palestinian funeral convoy is fired on at Kahhale.
Palestinians died when a convoy carrying a guerrilla's coffin to Damascus for burial and the residents of Kahhale, a Maronite village, traded fire. Who shot first, and how many were killed, is disputed. Hanf places the incident among the first serious clashes between Palestinians and armed Christians.

Sources differ: De Clerck & Malsagne: a Kataeb attack, 18 Palestinians dead. Hanf: ten dead; he reports both sides' versions and judges it likeliest that villagers took Palestinian shots into the air for an attack.

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January 1973

Tuesday, 23 January 1973

The road to war · From the books

The army fires on tobacco growers, killing two.
Two peasants died on 23 January 1973 when soldiers fired on protesting tobacco growers. About 20,000 rallied in Beirut in support, and clashes spread across Lebanon.

Sources differ: Place: Nabatieh (Traboulsi) or Kfar Remmaneh-Nabatieh (Tufaro). Aftermath: 20,000 in Beirut 'a few days later' (Traboulsi) or a march from the South to Beirut the next day (Tufaro); possibly the same event.

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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).

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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

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September 1975

Monday, 1 September 1975

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

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March 1976

Tuesday, 23 March 1976

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The ' Beirut Battle ' continued amid shelling.
The past 48 hours resulted in 150 deaths and 300 injuries. The control of downtown was at stake. Moslem-Progressive forces backed by Palestinian organizations were determined to eliminate any Phalangist presence West of the Martyrs Square. The new front was established on the axis Starco Hilton, while Phalangist militiamen faced assaults launched from the Riad El Solh and the Nejmeh Squares towards the Port area. In the Mountain where artillery duels continued, a common Palestinian Progressive breakthrough attempt was turned down in Mansourieh.

What the books addHanf traces the line that went on dividing the city along the Damascus road and across Martyrs Square to the harbour. It was set once the Kataeb, losing the Holiday Inn, had no positions left in West Beirut.

Art and memory

film Jocelyne Saab's 1976 documentary Beyrouth, jamais plus captures a Beirut that was disappearing.

Other date in the books: Monday, 22 March 1976

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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

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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

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January 1977

Sunday, 23 January 1977

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

In Broumana and in presence of 25 delegates, the week of the Lebanese Forces was held under the sign of coexistence.
This three-day seminar adopted the principle of diversity in respect of heritage and cultures. The seminar emphasized the need to solve Lebanon's economic problem using modern solutions.

What the books addDe Clerck and Malsagne put the Lebanese Front's seminar at the Sayyidat al-Bir convent, not Broumana, on 21 January 1977. Its leaders, they report, judged the independence-era institutions obsolete, raised partition and defined a 'plurality of civilisational groups'. The body was the Lebanese Front, the Christian leaders' coalition, not the Lebanese Forces militia.

Other date in the books: Friday, 21 January 1977

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March 1978

Thursday, 23 March 1978

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The first UNIFIL troops, French paratroopers, enter Tyre.
Armed Palestinian fighters still held Tyre's streets when Colonel Jean Germain Salvan's French paratroop battalion, the vanguard of the new UN force, drove in. At the handover of the Hassan Borro barracks, a quarrel between Palestinians and Lebanese officers came close to gunfire.

Sources differ: Entry 179 dates the first arrival of UN troops to 22 March.

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October 1979

Tuesday, 23 October 1979

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Phalangist elements and the LNP fought in Beit Mery.

Other date in the books: Saturday, 12 May 1979

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November 1979

Friday, 23 November 1979

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Tunis summit was disappointing. Lebanon received only a solemn proclamation of support doubled by a financial assistance up to 2 billion dollars, but the Southern Lebanon problem remained unsolved, the summit having just called the State and the resistance to get along.

What the books addThe Arab summit met in Tunis from 20 to 22 November 1979.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 20 November 1979

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February 1980

Saturday, 23 February 1980

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Criminal madness was unleashed in Lebanon. An odious assault was reported in the Sursock district. A car bomb killed 8 persons including Maya, Bechir Gemayel's 20 months old daughter, and injured 20 others. This explosion was aimed at the chief commander of the Lebanese Forces.

What the books addMénargues writes that Bashir Gemayel usually took Maya to her grandmother's on Saturdays but, sick after the sea crossing from Jerusalem the day before, had her governess and his bodyguards take her in his car, which was blown up less than a kilometre from his home. He blames the Palestinians there; later he says an inquiry into Aman el-Mandoubine, a network run by a Fatah intelligence officer, led to the arrest of two Christians who planted the bomb. One annex dates the attack 21 February.

Art and memory

memorial Ménargues reports that the Lebanese Forces' secret military plan, shown to the Israelis on 5 March 1982, was called 'M' in memory of Bashir's daughter Maya.

Other date in the books: Thursday, 21 February 1980

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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

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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

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Monday, 23 August 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Bechir Gemayel was elected President of the Lebanese Republic at the second round, by 57 votes against five abstentions.

What the books addHeld at the Fayadiyeh military academy after the 19 August session at Villa Mansour was put off. Some deputies arrived under escort; the quorum of 62 was met soon after midday, and Bashir won the second ballot with 57 votes and five blank. Hanf notes that only half the Greek Orthodox and a quarter of the Sunni deputies came. That night the homes of West Beirut deputies who had attended were burned.

Other date in the books: Thursday, 19 August 1982

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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).

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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.

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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

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December 1988

Friday, 23 December 1988

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Amal and Arafat's Fatah conclude an agreement.
Amal and Arafat's Fatah reached an accord to calm relations. The Palestinians left the Christian village of Maghdouche and Amal gradually eased its blockade of Rashidieh camp. De Clerck and Malsagne put the dead of the war of the camps at 2,000 to 3,000.

Sources differ: De Clerck (pp. 91-92) dates the Arafat-Berri reconciliation to early 1988, before this formal agreement.

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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

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November 1989

Wednesday, 1 November 1989

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The five permanent members of the Security Council are in favor of the Taef agreement.

Other date in the books: Sunday, 22 October 1989

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April 1990

Monday, 23 April 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

While the blockade war rages between the Lebanese Army and the Lebanese Forces, the President of the Republic declines Geagea's offer to surrender to him the barracks of Jbeil and the Kesrouan.

Other date in the books: Friday, 16 February 1990

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June 1990

Friday, 1 June 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Lakhdar Ibrahimi is again in Beirut to launch a series of intensive dialogues.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 11 July 1990

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November 1990

Friday, 23 November 1990

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The Lebanese Forces begin leaving Beirut.
On 23 November the Lebanese Forces began leaving Beirut, with a parade to show their strength. They had wanted pro-Syrian militias out of the Metn; the government did give the Kataeb its offices back and posted to Ashrafieh troops from the mostly neutral Sarba garrison rather than units that had fought for Aoun.

Sources differ: Entry 1217 says the Lebanese Forces had to leave Ashrafieh by 19 November at the latest.

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October 2004

Friday, 1 October 2004

After the war · From the books

Marwan Hamadeh survives a car bomb.
The car bomb that wounded Marwan Hamadeh, a Jumblatt adviser who had resigned from the cabinet, opened a series of attacks on opponents of Syria (Picard); the Special Tribunal for Lebanon later took on his case as legally linked to Hariri's. Kofi Annan's report on Resolution 1559 came out that day.

Sources differ: Picard (2016) places the attack 'a few days' after 3 September; the others give 1 October.

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December 2004

Wednesday, 1 December 2004

After the war · From the books

Thousands demonstrate in Beirut for the Syrian presence and against 1559.

Sources differ: The book chronology extracted to JSON reads this as 'December' only; the PDF shows 1 December.

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September 2005

Thursday, 1 September 2005

Since 2005 · From the books

Four security chiefs are arrested in the Hariri investigation.
Mustafa Hamdan of the Presidential Guard and the three men who had headed the security services when Hariri was killed were arrested at the instance of the UN commission, aided by the Lebanese judiciary. Picard records that the four were held without evidence until April 2009.

Sources differ: 1 September (Abirached) against end of August (Khayat; Picard gives August). Two sources favour late August.

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July 2006

Sunday, 23 July 2006

July 2006, as the books tell it · From the books

Israel begins to look for an exit; Syria threatens to join a ground war.
On Sunday 23 July, with no quick victory in sight, Olmert's office first weighed a political end to the war, and the defence minister's office debated ceasefire terms. Israeli units in the South readied an attack on Bint Jbeil; a Syrian minister warned that a ground offensive in Lebanon would bring Syria into the war.

Sources differ: The archive names the Syrian minister Mohsen Bilal as information minister, not foreign minister.

Reports at the time: Archive: 'Moshen Bilal, the Syrian information minister'.

The reports of that day, as they came in

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August 2006

Tuesday, 1 August 2006

July 2006, as the books tell it · From the books

Israeli commando raid on Baalbek's Dar al-Hikmeh hospital.
Israeli commandos landed by helicopter in Baalbek on the night of 1-2 August and took away five men, whom Israel called Hezbollah cadres. Aurélie Daher, citing the Lebanese press, writes that the five were freed three weeks later, shown to have no tie to the party; that some twenty civilians, seven of them children, were killed; and that the target, Sheikh Mohammad Yazbeck, was not at the Dar al-Hikmeh hospital where he was expected.

Sources differ: Date: 1 August (34 Days), night of 1-2 August (Daher), 2 August (Abirached). Identity of the five: Hezbollah fighters (Israeli army, archive), 'presumed members' (Abirached), civilians with no link (Daher).

Reports at the time: Archive tolls: eleven civilians killed and six kidnapped (police, 07:50), nineteen killed (Al-Jazeera), sixteen including seven children (15:35); Halutz claimed ten fighters killed and five captured.

The reports of that day, as they came in

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 2 August 2006

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September 2006

Friday, 1 September 2006

Since 2005 · From the books

Donors pledge 940 million dollars; Assad promises to help enforce the arms embargo.
Donor pledges at the close of the Stockholm conference totalled 940 million dollars. Assad, for his part, undertook to help the UN apply the embargo on weapons for Hezbollah.

Sources differ: Abirached's JSON extract lists this under 'September' without a day; the PDF page reads 1 September.

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March 2009

Sunday, 1 March 2009

Since 2005 · From the books

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon opens near The Hague.
The Special Tribunal, set up under Resolution 1757, began work in The Hague; its remit covered Hariri's assassination and related attacks from 2004 on.

Sources differ: Picard's '2011' refers to first sessions, not to the opening.

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