The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Four Lebanese militaries were killed in a helicopter accident. The Aircraft crashed on the hills of Sannine.
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12 entries on 10 dates · the books disagree on 4
February 1981
Wednesday, 4 February 1981
April 1981
Thursday, 2 April 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Lebanese will remember this date for long time. Violence brought back to Beirut the darkest experiences of 1975-1976. Blind bombardments targeted the Eastern and Western sectors of the capital. Thousands of students were trapped in their schools and the population panicked. There were heavy casualties: 50 persons died and more than 200 were wounded.
What the books addHistorians date the battle of Zahleh from this day, when Lebanese Forces fighters beat off a Syrian attack on the town and a siege of some 90 days began. Ménargues says Syrian heavy guns killed 50 and wounded over 200 that day in Zahleh and the Christian zone north of Beirut.
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The battle of Zahleh begins.
From December 1980 the Syrian army held positions on the edge of Zahleh. Lebanese Forces fighters in the town repulsed its attack, and a siege of roughly 90 days followed, which Bashir Gemayel portrayed as a fight for 'the last Christian town' of the East.
From December 1980 the Syrian army held positions on the edge of Zahleh. Lebanese Forces fighters in the town repulsed its attack, and a siege of roughly 90 days followed, which Bashir Gemayel portrayed as a fight for 'the last Christian town' of the East.
Sources differ: Ménargues ends the siege on 30 June 1981 and Fisk by 1 July; de Clerck & Malsagne (p. 80) place the end of hostilities in May–June.
Saturday, 4 April 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
An intensive bombardment in Zahleh killed 20 and injured 100.
What the books addMénargues dates a day of intensive shelling of Zahleh, with about twenty dead, to 6 April.
Other date in the books: Monday, 6 April 1981
May 1981
Monday, 4 May 1981
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Reagan sends Philip Habib to the Middle East.
Reagan sent Philip Habib, a retired US diplomat of Lebanese descent, as special envoy to ease the Syrian–Israeli missile crisis; he spent months travelling between Jerusalem, Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut.
Reagan sent Philip Habib, a retired US diplomat of Lebanese descent, as special envoy to ease the Syrian–Israeli missile crisis; he spent months travelling between Jerusalem, Damascus, Riyadh and Beirut.
Sources differ: Ménargues implies Habib was expected in Damascus on 2 May, before de Clerck & Malsagne's date of 4 May for his dispatch.
June 1981
Thursday, 4 June 1981
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Begin discloses Israel's promises to Lebanon's Christians.
Damascus denounced an 'alliance with the enemy' and West Beirut politicians protested after Begin, in a Knesset debate before the elections, revealed verbal pledges to Lebanon's Christians: he had met a 'delegation' on 28 August 1978 and on 2 April 1981 sent an emissary to renew his offer of help. The Vigilance Committee was summoned to Beiteddine.
Damascus denounced an 'alliance with the enemy' and West Beirut politicians protested after Begin, in a Knesset debate before the elections, revealed verbal pledges to Lebanon's Christians: he had met a 'delegation' on 28 August 1978 and on 2 April 1981 sent an emissary to renew his offer of help. The Vigilance Committee was summoned to Beiteddine.
July 1981
Thursday, 2 July 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Sodeco crossing way was officially opened to traffic. But the calm didn't last for more than 2 days, as snipers were back into action.
Saturday, 4 July 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Arab Foreign Affairs Ministers met in Beiteddine. However, no concrete measure was taken, it was a total impasse.
What the books addMénargues lists the participants as Syrian foreign minister Abdel Halim Khaddam, the Arab League's representative and the Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors, Ali Chaër and Abdel Hamid Bouayajane. That day a general strike against the Syrian presence shut down the Christian regions.
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Ammunition depot explodes in Tariq al-Jdideh; general strike in the Christian areas.
In Tariq al-Jdideh, West Beirut, 7 people died and 51 were wounded when ammunition stored by the Organisation of Communist Action in a building's basement exploded. That day a general strike against the Syrian presence brought the Christian regions to a halt.
In Tariq al-Jdideh, West Beirut, 7 people died and 51 were wounded when ammunition stored by the Organisation of Communist Action in a building's basement exploded. That day a general strike against the Syrian presence brought the Christian regions to a halt.
September 1981
Friday, 4 September 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The French ambassador, Louis Delamare, was cowardly assassinated 100 meters away from the Résidence des Pins.
What the books addThe 59-year-old ambassador was shot in his locked car at about 1.55 p.m., some 60 metres from a Syrian checkpoint (Malsagne), while heading home near the Résidence des Pins. Malsagne blames a pro-Syrian Shiite commando; the next ambassador, Paul-Marc Henry, saw a botched kidnapping ordered by Iranian intelligence. France was then moving closer to the PLO.
Art and memory
- place Louis Delamare was shot close to a Syrian checkpoint on his way back to his home near the Résidence des Pins, which stood on the front line. After his death the ambassador was given an armoured car, and from 1982 ambassadors no longer lived at the residence.
November 1981
Monday, 2 November 1981
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Arab Strike Force launched a security operation in the West of the capital where Palestinian, Libyan and Iranian influence multiplied lately.
Other date in the books: Friday, 11 September 1981
December 1981
Friday, 4 December 1981
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Amal and pro-Iraqi Baathists fight in Moussaitbeh.
Amal militiamen and members of the pro-Iraqi Baath party fought each other with heavy weapons for three hours in the Moussaitbeh district of West Beirut.
Amal militiamen and members of the pro-Iraqi Baath party fought each other with heavy weapons for three hours in the Moussaitbeh district of West Beirut.