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52 entries on 45 dates · the books disagree on 52

October 1975

Tuesday, 21 October 1975

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Kamal El Assad was reelected president of the Chamber by 47 votes against one. At the same time, Beirut was still under fire and the list of victims, whether kidnapped, executed, or shot by snipers or mortar shells, kept growing.

Other date in the books: Monday, 20 October 1975

\_this day in full \_on this day

Monday, 27 October 1975

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Murr tower was occupied by the Mourabitun, and the Holliday Inn-Phoenicia region was held by the Phalange Party.
What the books addBegun in late October 1975 (20 October in de Clerck and Malsagne's chronology), the Battle of the Hotels ran for five months, ending when the Holiday Inn fell on 20-22 March 1976. Traboulsi links its launch to Black Saturday in December.

Other date in the books: Monday, 20 October 1975

\_this day in full \_on this day

January 1976

Wednesday, 21 January 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books 21-22 January

Army helicopters and boats evacuate Jiyeh but not Damour or Saadiyat.
Damour and Saadiyat, defended only by National Liberal Party militiamen, were not evacuated, while on 21 and 22 January army helicopters and boats took refugees from neighbouring Jiyeh to Jounieh.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 20 January 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Ta'labaya, near Zahleh, falls to the PLA.
Bishop Yuhanna Bassul of Zahleh's diary records the dawn fall of Ta'labaya, a Bekaa village, to a surprise assault by the Palestine Liberation Army and Yarmouk brigades, and the forced departure of its Christians.

Sources differ: Hanf (p. 210) dates a Palestinian seizure of Ta'labaya, with its people expelled, to December 1975; de Clerck and Malsagne (p. 154) record 35 killed there from that month.

\_this day in full \_on this day

March 1976

Sunday, 21 March 1976

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The ' Holiday Inn ' occupied by the Phalange Party fell in the hands of the Mourabitun and their allies.
According to some sources, the Phalange Party succeeded in evacuating some of its militiamen who took with them seven dead bodies, three of which were young girls. According to other sources, 65 militiamen were able to run away using an underground passage. The Holiday Inn had been subject to repeated assaults for the past ten months.
What the books addMourabitoun and Palestinian fighters, backed by Lebanese Arab Army artillery, took the 24-storey Holiday Inn after a fight waged floor by floor, day and night, from 20 to 22 March 1976 (Traboulsi dates the fall to 22 March). The Kataeb withdrew to the Fattal building near the port. The five-month Battle of the Hotels was over, and Beirut was split along the Green Line.
Art and memory
  • novel Rabee Jaber's novel Birds of the Holiday Inn (2011) is set around the hotel during the battles for downtown Beirut.
  • photograph In November 2002 Haugbolle photographed the ruined Holiday Inn behind a huge banner of the Roman temple at Baalbek; the picture illustrates his discussion of nostalgia.
  • novel George Shami's documentary novel What Is Left of the Fighting (Madha baqa min al-qital, 2003) followed young militiamen through the 1976 hotels battle.

Other dates in the books: Saturday, 20 March 1976, Monday, 22 March 1976

\_this day in full \_on this day

Saturday, 27 March 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Assad and Jumblatt break after a seven-hour meeting.
The lasting rupture between Kamal Jumblatt and President Assad came at a meeting of some seven hours in Damascus. Assad refused what Jumblatt sought, a decisive military defeat of the Lebanese Front and Frangieh's departure, saying the Constitutional Document already gave him most of it. The same day the Maronite leaders met the patriarch at Bkerké.

Sources differ: Ménargues reports a further long meeting in mid-May.

\_this day in full \_on this day

May 1976

Thursday, 27 May 1976

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Linda Joumblatt, Kamal Joumblatt's 55 years old sister, was cowardly assassinated in her home in Beirut. A group of armed men broke into her apartment and opened fire on her. She was killed while her daughters Nouha, 28 years old, and Samar, 18 years old were injured.
What the books addOn 2 June Bashir Gemayel, having asked for a secret meeting with Kamal Jumblatt, offered him condolences and information on who had killed her. Traboulsi names her Linda al-Atrash and puts her apartment in East Beirut.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 2 June 1976

\_this day in full \_on this day

June 1976

Sunday, 27 June 1976

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Phalange Party, the NLP, and the Guardians of the Cedar launched the 'Camps Battle'.
What the books addYara El Khoury dates the start of the final offensive on Jisr al-Basha and Tal al-Za'tar to 22 June 1976, and Hanf's account (Jisr al-Basha stormed eight days after the first assault, on 1 July) points to the same week. The camps had been blockaded since January. Hanf says Chamoun's Tigers and Christian units of the army led the attack, the Kataeb joining later; a joint command of Bashir Gemayel (Kataeb), Dany Chamoun and Nabil Karam (NLP), Fawzi Mahfouz (Tanzim) and Etienne Saqr (Guardians of the Cedar) coordinated it (de Clerck and Malsagne).

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 22 June 1976

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January 1977

Friday, 21 January 1977

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The Lebanese Front's seminar defines Lebanon as a 'plurality of civilisations'.
Lebanese Front leaders met in seminar at the Sayyidat al-Bir convent. They discussed partition, dismissed the independence-era institutions as outdated and called Lebanon a set of 'civilisational groups'. The Front also issued constitutional reform proposals.

Sources differ: Original entry 110 dates a three-day Lebanese 'Forces' seminar at Broumana to 23 January; it may be the same meeting.

\_this day in full \_on this day

March 1977

Sunday, 27 March 1977

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Arab League decided to renew the mandate of the Arab Strike Force for another six months.
What the books addThe force is usually called the Arab Deterrent Force (ADF) in English.

Other date in the books: Monday, 18 October 1976

\_this day in full \_on this day

March 1978

Tuesday, 21 March 1978

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Israel announces a ceasefire in the south; Operation Litani ends.
Fisk puts the cost of Operation Litani at as many as 2,000 Lebanese and Palestinian dead and 20 Israelis. On 21 March, its last day, Israel announced a ceasefire, but its guns shelled Tyre from nine that morning; it held the south up to the Litani except the Tyre pocket.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 14 March 1978

\_this day in full \_on this day

June 1978

Tuesday, 13 June 1978

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

A dramatic event was reported in Zghorta. A chock commando killed Tony Frangieh, deputy and son of the President Sleiman Frangieh, his wife Vera and their daughter Jihane, at their home in Ehden. The murder of Tony Frangieh took place while the conflict between the Phalange Party and the Zghortiotes was at its peak.
What the books addHistorians date the Ehden killings to 13 June (de Clerck and Malsagne) or 14 June (Hanf). A unit of some 200 men (Traboulsi) led by Samir Geagea attacked the Frangieh residence; besides Tony Frangieh, his wife and their three-year-old daughter, about thirty relatives and supporters were killed. The Phalange presented the raid as retaliation for the killing of their local leader Jud al-Bayeh in early June; Bashir Gemayel denied ordering the killing of the family. The raid also turned on control of the Chekka cement works. Syrian troops then occupied Ehden and much of the north.
Art and memory
  • book De Clerck and Malsagne refer to a 2016 article by Dan Naor on how the Frangieh family made Ehden a resistance myth.
  • testimony Women mourners keened at Tony Frangieh's funeral in 1978 until his father, the former president, stepped in to quiet them.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 14 June 1978

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Israel completes its withdrawal but hands the border strip to Major Haddad.
UNIFIL was kept out of a border belt 5 to 10 km deep that stayed in the hands of Major Saad Haddad's militia when Israeli troops officially left South Lebanon.

Sources differ: Hanf gives 12 June; Picard says July.

Other date in the books: Monday, 12 June 1978

\_this day in full \_on this day

March 1979

Tuesday, 13 March 1979

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Parliament adopts a law to rebuild the army and send it south.
The new defence law set up a Higher Defence Council and a Military Council, allocated military posts by sect among the six main communities, allowed the army to be used only with national consensus, and planned its deployment to the UNIFIL area in the south.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne give 13 March 1979 in their text and 13 May in their chronology, where the entry sits between February and March, so 13 May is probably a slip. Picard gives March 1979.

Other dates in the books: Wednesday, 18 April 1979, Sunday, 13 May 1979

\_this day in full \_on this day

October 1979

Saturday, 27 October 1979

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

A car bomb exploded in basta, next to the office of the Army of Arabic Lebanon provoking 8 deaths and 32 injuries. The attack was followed by a strike in West Beirut.

Other date in the books: Sunday, 22 April 1979

\_this day in full \_on this day

January 1980

Monday, 21 January 1980

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Lebanese army projected to deploy in South Lebanon while Israel was strongly opposed to this project.
What the books addDeploying the army, Sarkis insisted on his return from an Arab meeting at Ta'if in February 1980, should come before political reform (Traboulsi). Amal and the Phalange newspaper al-Amal also called for the army to be sent south (Traboulsi; Hanf).

Other date in the books: Thursday, 20 March 1980

\_this day in full \_on this day

September 1980

Saturday, 27 September 1980

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

At Saydet el-Bir, Bashir Gemayel's circle decides to seek power.
Sixteen men, Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Aoun among them, met Bashir Gemayel at the Saydet el-Bir convent on 27 September 1980, where he decided to take power and its preparation began. That day L'Orient-Le Jour's front page said Selim Hoss, who had resigned as prime minister in March, had agreed to go on handling current affairs.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne depend on Ménargues for this meeting.

\_this day in full \_on this day

October 1980

Monday, 27 October 1980

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Phalange Party and the NLP fought in Ain el Remmaneh. Camille Chamoun threatened to withdraw from the Lebanese Front.
What the books addThe National Liberal holdouts in Ain el-Remmaneh were led by Elias Hannouche ('Hannache'). Hanf and de Clerck and Malsagne place the end of their autonomy in late October 1980 (de Clerck: Lebanese Forces in control of East Beirut on 31 October); Ménargues dates the decisive Lebanese Forces assault to the second half of November. There may have been two rounds.

Other dates in the books: Friday, 31 October 1980, Friday, 28 November 1980

\_this day in full \_on this day

December 1980

Sunday, 21 December 1980

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The situation worsened in Zahleh under heavy bombardments. These confrontations between Zahliotes and soldiers from the Arab Strike Force continued until December 26 when a cease-fire eased the tension.
What the books addThe crisis began on 20 December when Elias Hannouche, a former Tiger commander backed by Syria, seized the old National Liberal office in Zahle. After an ambush inside the town killed five Syrian soldiers on 22 December, Syrian artillery opened fire on it (Ménargues; Hanf counts an officer and five soldiers). De Clerck and Malsagne date the bombardment to 21 December and call it the first round of the battle of Zahle. Most of the former Tigers then joined the Lebanese Forces, and Syrian troops stayed positioned around the town until the siege of spring 1981.

Other dates in the books: Saturday, 20 December 1980, Monday, 22 December 1980

\_this day in full \_on this day

July 1981

Tuesday, 21 July 1981

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

While the bombardment continued in South Lebanon, the Security Council ordered a cease-fire; but the latter wasn't observed despite the presence of the US envoy Philip Habib in the region.
What the books addMénargues dates to 22 July Reagan's indefinite freeze on F-16 deliveries to Israel and a unanimous Security Council call for an immediate cease-fire, which Arafat accepted at once.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 22 July 1981

\_this day in full \_on this day

April 1982

Wednesday, 21 April 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Six successive raids were reported within 90 minutes against Aramoun, Naameh and Damour, putting an end to a cease-fire that lasted 9 months. This new aggression claimed the lives of 80 victims.
What the books addFisk, on the coast road when it began, dates the Damour raid to 22 April: Israeli jets struck for over two hours, killing at least 19 Palestinians; Israel cited the death of a soldier on a mine in the south. For Fisk it previewed the invasion.

Other date in the books: Thursday, 22 April 1982

\_this day in full \_on this day

July 1982

Tuesday, 27 July 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

On the eve of the return to Beirut of the US envoy, and the opening of the conference of the Arab Committee, Israel bombed West Beirut. The Palestinian forces retorted by shelling East Beirut. 112 deaths and 232 injuries were reported so far.
What the books addAmong the targets on 27 July was an apartment building on Iskandar Street where, according to Robert Fisk, almost a hundred people were killed.

Other date in the books: Monday, 26 July 1982

\_this day in full \_on this day

November 1982

Sunday, 21 November 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

In a message addressed to the nation, the chief of State declared : 'Lebanon will recover its independence by all means.'

Other date in the books: Monday, 22 November 1982

\_this day in full \_on this day

August 1983

Sunday, 21 August 1983

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The first signs of an imminent Israeli redeployment in the south of the Awali river multiplied. Lebanon urged the United States to intervene in order to delay this initiative.
What the books addIsrael announced the pullback on 20 July. On 16 August Moshe Arens told Gemayel in East Beirut that Israel would leave the mountains even if the fighting had not stopped, and he announced a withdrawal for 15 September. According to de Clerck and Malsagne, the United States tried without success to dissuade Israel.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 16 August 1983

\_this day in full \_on this day

May 1985

Monday, 27 May 1985

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

A British teacher at the AUB is shot in the head by would-be kidnappers.
Would-be kidnappers shot a British teacher on the AUB staff in the head after he apparently tried to fight them off.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 22 May 1985

\_this day in full \_on this day

November 1985

Wednesday, 13 November 1985

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Eastern regions went on strike to protest against the suicide truck killing attempt perpetrated against the leaders of the Lebanese Front gathered in the St Georges convent in Awkar. The assault caused 4 dead and 36 wounded, including Elie Karameh, Edouard Honein, and Fouad Ephrame Boustany who were slightly injured.
What the books addHobeika and President Gemayel escaped injury only because they were not in their cars when these were attacked; Chamoun, Elie Karami and other Lebanese Front leaders were hurt. Hanf places these attempts in a series that, in his view, hardened the confrontation over the Damascus agreement.

Other date in the books: Saturday, 28 December 1985

\_this day in full \_on this day

September 1986

Saturday, 27 September 1986

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

500 fighters led by Elie Hobeika entered Achrafieh where they fought ferociously with Geagea's men. The Lebanese Forces and the army rebuffed the infiltration. 65 persons lost their lives in the operation while 200 others were wounded.
What the books addDates differ: 27 September (de Clerck and Malsagne), 29 September (Hanf), or by 26 September (Ménargues). Hanf has the Lebanese army halting an attack launched across the green line from West Beirut, after which former comrades killed a few hundred of Hobeika's men.

Other dates in the books: Friday, 26 September 1986, Monday, 29 September 1986

\_this day in full \_on this day

October 1986

Tuesday, 21 October 1986

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Hussein Husseini was reelected Speaker of the National Assembly. A seventh US national, Edward Tracy was kidnapped in West Beirut.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 9 September 1986

\_this day in full \_on this day

May 1988

Friday, 27 May 1988

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Syrians deploy in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
What the books addHanf (p. 317) dates the Syrian entry into the southern suburbs to 17 May 1988; de Clerck and Malsagne write 19 May (with the year printed as 1989). Neither gives 27 May.

Other dates in the books: Friday, 6 May 1988, Tuesday, 17 May 1988

\_this day in full \_on this day

June 1988

Monday, 27 June 1988

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Chatila falls in the hands of the Palestinian dissidents.
What the books addDe Clerck (pp. 170, 576) dates the fall of Chatila to 28 June 1988, after 59 days of shelling; Arafat's fighters were escorted to Ain al-Hilweh.

Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 28 June 1988, Friday, 8 July 1988

\_this day in full \_on this day

August 1989

Sunday, 13 August 1989

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The army repels an offensive by the PSP and its allies, backed by Syrian troops, on Souk el-Gharb.
The army held its lines at Souk el-Gharb after about five hours of close combat, repelling Druze and Palestinian fighters backed by Syrian troops whose apparent target was the presidential palace in Baabda. De Clerck and Malsagne say Jumblatt lost about a hundred fighters.

Sources differ: The book's chronology calls it an attempt by the Syrian army and allied militias to enter East Beirut; its narrative and Hanf describe a PSP-led attack with Syrian support.

\_this day in full \_on this day

September 1989

Wednesday, 13 September 1989

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The troika proposes an immediate ceasefire, an end to the blockade and a meeting of parliament in Saudi Arabia on 30 September.
Hanf judges the new plan largely favourable to Syria. A committee would search ships for arms bound for Aoun; land routes would go unpatrolled. Syria, asked in the troika's first draft to pull back in part within six months, now had two years, then positions in the Bekaa and the mountains.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne date the plan to 17 September.

Other date in the books: Sunday, 17 September 1989

\_this day in full \_on this day

Wednesday, 27 September 1989

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Lakhdar Ibrahimi announces that the parliamentary meeting will take place in Taef (in Saudi Arabia) on September 30th.
What the books addThe meeting date of 30 September was already part of the troika's 13 September proposals (Hanf). De Clerck and Malsagne say 63 of the 73 surviving deputies gathered in Taif on 30 September. Hanf dates the formal opening to 1 October.

Other dates in the books: Wednesday, 13 September 1989, Saturday, 30 September 1989

\_this day in full \_on this day

January 1990

Saturday, 27 January 1990

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Fighting breaks out between the army and the Lebanese Forces over a school in Furn al-Chebbak.
Both sides had Iraqi weapons. The spark was a school in Furn al-Chebbak, a strategic point between Baabda and East Beirut, which the Lebanese Forces had requisitioned and Aoun's government wanted back for the Ministry of Education. When the militia would not leave, the army fired, and heavy fighting broke out in many places within hours.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne date the outbreak at Furn al-Chubbak to 31 January (entry 1177); Picard's chronology gives 30 January.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 31 January 1990

\_this day in full \_on this day

May 1990

Monday, 21 May 1990

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

A Vatican-mediated ceasefire between the army and the Lebanese Forces takes effect.
A Vatican-mediated ceasefire took effect between Aoun's army and the Lebanese Forces. Mutual exhaustion held it; their hatred did not abate, and the Christian enclave stayed divided between them through the summer.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne date the truce to 26 May. Accounts of when the war ended differ: March (Quéméner), May (Traboulsi, Fisk), July (Picard).

Other date in the books: Saturday, 26 May 1990

\_this day in full \_on this day

August 1990

Tuesday, 21 August 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The second Lebanese Republic was born and the National Assembly approved with a majority of 48 deputies the constitutional reforms included in the Taef agreement. However, General Aoun continued to contest the legality of the Chamber.
What the books addSources disagree on the dates. Hanf dates the parliamentary vote (48 for, 1 against, 2 abstentions out of 51 deputies) to 26 August 1990 and its promulgation by President Hrawi to 21 September 1990. De Clerck and Malsagne, and Picard, give 21 September as the date the constitutional law was adopted. Haugbolle says parliament approved the Taif Agreement in August 1990. Traboulsi's postscript gives '21 September' but places it in 1991, probably by mistake. The vote started the Taif timetable: six months to disband the militias, and two years before Syrian troops withdrew to the Bekaa. Aoun called it a comedy, arguing that parliament had been dissolved.

Other dates in the books: Sunday, 26 August 1990, Friday, 21 September 1990

\_this day in full \_on this day

September 1990

Friday, 21 September 1990

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

President Hrawi promulgates the amended Constitution of the Second Republic.
Hrawi promulgated the revised Constitution, with the Taif reforms written in, and announced on air that it would found the Second Republic. Three ex-army commanders then urged Aoun's soldiers to accept General Lahoud's authority; some officers did.

Sources differ: Hanf calls 21 September the promulgation, after a vote on 26 August; de Clerck and Malsagne and Picard call it the adoption. Entry 1204 dates the vote to 21 August.

\_this day in full \_on this day

Thursday, 27 September 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The blockade against the Eastern region gets tougher and tougher. The goal is proclaimed: force General Aoun to give up before schools reopen.
What the books addHanf notes the blockade had little support even outside the enclave, as civilians rather than Aoun's soldiers bore it. On 28 September 1990, he records, Lahoud's troops tightened it by taking every checkpoint around Aoun's area; Aoun's followers protested daily there and at Baabda.

Other date in the books: Friday, 28 September 1990

\_this day in full \_on this day

October 1990

Saturday, 13 October 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

A quick operation following a bombardment by the Syrian aviation permitted to the Lebanese army loyal to the Hoss government to take control of the Baabda palace and Yarze. General Aoun capitulated to avoid bloody fights and took refuge at the French embassy. Fights, according to some estimates, cause 700 deaths.
What the books addAt about 7 a.m. on 13 October 1990 Syrian aircraft started bombing Baabda, and Syrian and Lebanese armour moved in from West Beirut and the mountains. Some two and a half hours later Aoun went to the French embassy; with Ambassador René Ala mediating, and at Hrawi's demand, he told his troops over the radio to obey General Lahoud. Within about eight hours the fighting had ended. Tolls vary: over 200 dead in a single morning (de Clerck and Malsagne); some 400 Syrian soldiers dead (Hanf); 160 Syrian soldiers dead at Dahr el-Wahash alone, by Syrian figures (Fisk); and an initial government figure of 36 dead (Fisk). Picard's chronology places the Syrian attack on 12 October.

Other date in the books: Friday, 12 October 1990

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Syrian troops execute captured soldiers of Aoun's army.
Some of Aoun's units did not hear, or ignored, his order to stop fighting. At Dahr el-Wahash, above Baabda, they fired on Syrian infantry after the surrender; Syrian sources told Fisk they lost 160 men there. Syrian troops then executed captured Aoun soldiers, about a hundred (Hanf), and killed fifteen villagers in Bsous. Fisk found dozens of bodies in the Baabda hospital mortuary, many shot through the back of the head. About twenty senior officers were taken to Anjar or to Syria.

Sources differ: Figures differ by source and are partly second-hand (Syrian sources quoted by Fisk).

Art and memory
  • testimony Robert Fisk's eyewitness account of the Baabda mortuary and the Dahr el-Wahash ridge after 13 October 1990 is the most detailed record in the supplied books of the executions that followed Aoun's surrender.

\_this day in full \_on this day

Sunday, 21 October 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The leader of the National Liberal Party, Dany Chamoun, his wife Ingrid and his two kids Tarek and Julian were savagely assassinated in there home in Baabda.
What the books addDe Clerck and Malsagne count the murder of Dany Chamoun, his wife and two of their children as the last act of violence between Christian factions. The place is given as Baabda (Confluences) or 'his east Beirut home' (Fisk). Chamoun had backed Aoun, though critically, and was opposed to Syria's presence. Hanf notes that many blamed Syria, but judges that killing a whole family suggests a militia vendetta; Fisk likens it to the Phalangists' earlier killing of Tony Frangieh, his wife and baby. Samir Geagea was later tried for the murder (Picard).

Other date in the books: Saturday, 13 October 1990

\_this day in full \_on this day

February 1994

Sunday, 27 February 1994

After the war · From the books

A bomb kills worshippers in a church near Jounieh.
A bomb killed people in the church of Sayidet al-Najat. Samir Geagea, charged over it but acquitted, was then tried over wartime political killings.

Sources differ: Location given as Jounieh (Picard) or Zouk (de Clerck); the church is commonly called Notre-Dame de la Délivrance, the French form of Sayidat al-Najat.

\_this day in full \_on this day

April 2003

Sunday, 13 April 2003

After the war · From the books

'Remember, so as not to return': a campaign for a national day of memory.
In al-Safir leading politicians openly backed remembering the war for the first time. On 13 April hundreds gathered in Martyrs' Square, handing out flowers and collecting signatures for a national memory day and a memorial; earlier, the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir and the families' Committee had screened war documentaries unseen in Lebanon at Masrah al-Medina.
Art and memory
  • place Architect Mona El-Hallak came upon the Barakat building, above the old demarcation line at Sodeco, in 1996, and from 1997 led APSAD's campaign to save it. In 2003 the municipality expropriated it for $3 million for Beit Beirut.
  • film Films Haugbolle cites on postwar amnesia include Ghassan Salhab's Beyrouth Fantôme (1999) and Terra Incognita (2002); the novel Ya Salam (1999) by Najwa Barakat follows former militiamen in peacetime.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 8 April 2003

\_this day in full \_on this day

July 2006

Thursday, 13 July 2006

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

Beirut airport, twenty-one bridges and the Damascus road are bombed.
Israel bombed Beirut airport's runways, some twenty-one bridges and the Beirut–Damascus highway, cutting air traffic and the main roads to Syria. Visitors, many from the Gulf, were stuck; Western states evacuated their citizens, dual nationals included, by sea.

Sources differ: 34 Days puts the runway strike on the night of 12 July; Abirached and Dieckhoff date the strikes to 13 July.

Reports at the time: The archive's first report of the runways being hit is 06:30 on 13 July, after the Damour bridge (00:50); helicopters struck the airport's fuel tanks again in the evening.

The reports of that day, as they came in

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 12 July 2006

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

Israel imposes an air and sea blockade on Lebanon.
Israel closed Lebanon's air space and coast. The blockade stayed in force until 7 September, over three weeks past the ceasefire, and hindered the export of books and newspapers printed in Lebanon.

Sources differ: Start date: 13 July (Abirached; Dieckhoff 'from the next day'), 12 July (Mermier).

Reports at the time: The archive reports a 'general blockade' at 10:05 on 13 July, supporting Abirached's date.

The reports of that day, as they came in

Other date in the books: Friday, 14 July 2006

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

The Jiyeh power station's fuel tanks are bombed; an oil slick spreads along the coast.
Some 150 km of coast, up to the Syrian border, was fouled after Israeli strikes on 13 and 15 July hit the fuel tanks of the Jiyeh power station, 25 km south of Beirut. Thousands of tonnes of fuel oil burned or ran into the sea; fishing was devastated, and the ongoing war delayed the clean-up.

Sources differ: Verdeil puts the spill at 10,000-15,000 tonnes; Bustos gives the full contents of the depot, 35,000 tonnes, some of which burned and some spilled. The two figures measure different things.

Reports at the time: No archive report for 13-15 July mentions Jiyeh; the fires and the slick first appear on 26 July, and the strike notes put Jiyeh under 16 July.

The reports of that day, as they came in

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

Saudi Arabia condemns Hezbollah's 'adventurism'.
Riyadh on 13 July blamed the capture on Hezbollah's 'irresponsible adventurism' yet still endorsed 'legitimate resistance'. Hezbollah had not expected it: no Arab government had openly condemned such an action before.

Sources differ: Night of 12 July (34 Days) against 13 July (Ayad and Donati).

Reports at the time: The archive reports the Saudi statement only at 05:20 on 14 July, a day later than either book.

The reports of that day, as they came in

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 12 July 2006

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

First Israeli raids on Beirut's southern suburb.
Israeli aircraft struck the southern suburb of Beirut, Hezbollah's stronghold, for the first time.

Sources differ: 34 Days puts the start of the bombing of Dahiyeh on the evening of 14 July (see 2006-07-14-haret-hreik).

Reports at the time: The archive backs Abirached: it cites Hezbollah reporting a strike on its southern-suburb stronghold at 08:30 on 13 July.

The reports of that day, as they came in

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Thursday, 27 July 2006

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

Lebanon's cabinet, Hezbollah ministers included, adopts Siniora's plan.
Five Shiite ministers backed the decision of Siniora's cabinet, that evening, to adopt the plan from his Rome speech, including the army's deployment in the South. To Harel and Issacharoff, Hezbollah's agreement showed how badly the Bint Jbeil fighting had hurt it.

Sources differ: Evening of 27 July (34 Days) against 28 July (Abirached).

Reports at the time: The archive supports 34 Days: the unanimous endorsement is reported at 23:20-23:25 on 27 July; AFP carried it the next morning (08:55 on 28 July), which may explain Abirached's date.

The reports of that day, as they came in

Other date in the books: Friday, 28 July 2006

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August 2006

Sunday, 13 August 2006

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

Israel's cabinet approves the ceasefire as the last bombs fall.
Israel's cabinet approved the ceasefire, with Shaul Mofaz alone abstaining. Heavy bombing went on, Beirut included, and ground forces neither took Khiam nor established themselves on the Litani. That evening an air strike on a house in Brital, near Baalbek, killed five of one family.

Sources differ: Brital: five dead of one family (Daher) against at least seven to nine dead and over thirty wounded (archive).

The reports of that day, as they came in

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May 2008

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Since 2005 · From the books

The Doha agreement ends the crisis.
Talks in Doha under Qatari and Arab League mediation ended the fighting. The parties undertook to elect a president at once, renounce political violence, lift the opposition sit-in, form a unity government with an opposition blocking third and redraw constituencies for 2009. Hezbollah's weapons went unmentioned.

Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne's narrative (pp. 462-463) has 21 May; their chronology (p. 578) has 25 May, combining the Doha accord with Sleiman's election.

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September 2024

Friday, 27 September 2024

Since 2005 · From the books

Hassan Nasrallah is killed in massive Israeli strikes on the southern suburb.
Bunker-buster raids on Beirut's southern suburb killed Hassan Nasrallah and much of Hezbollah's command. De Clerck and Malsagne say Netanyahu gave the order in New York while France's Emmanuel Macron was pressing for a truce.

Sources differ: The introduction (p. 27) speaks of '85,000 tonnes' of bunker busters, which is hard to credit; a smaller figure or a different unit may have been intended.

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