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111101 entriesfrom the booksonly where the books disagree
chronologiesallThe road to war 1968–1974The Lebanese war 1975–1990After the war 1991–2005July 2006, as the books tell it 2006Since 2005 2005–2025
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35 entries on 34 dates · the books disagree on 35

November 1969

Wednesday, 26 November 1969

The road to war · From the books

Karami's national unity cabinet gives Kamal Jumblatt the Interior Ministry.
Kamal Jumblatt became interior minister, in charge of carrying out the Cairo Agreement, in the government of national union Rashid Karami formed once the Syrian border reopened, ending a cabinet vacancy of over seven months.

Sources differ: 26 November (Traboulsi, twice) or 25 November (de Clerck & Malsagne).

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 25 November 1969

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February 1975

Wednesday, 26 February 1975

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Troops fire on Sidon's protesting fishermen; Maarouf Saad is mortally wounded.
Maarouf Saad, the Nasserist deputy leading a Sidon fishermen's march, was shot when the army fired on it and died days later; several others were killed or wounded. The marchers opposed Protein, holder of a deep-sea fishing concession, with Camille Chamoun on its board. That evening armed men killed a soldier.

Sources differ: Hanf places the demonstration in March; the existing entry 10 gives 7 March. Traboulsi and de Clerck and Malsagne give 26 February.

Art and memory
  • film Censored in Lebanon, Le Liban dans la tourmente (1975) was Jocelyne Saab's first war documentary. Filming both a wealthy, carefree bourgeoisie and cheerful children in the Palestinian camps, she asked where the hatred came from.

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May 1975

Monday, 26 May 1975

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The military Cabinet resigned
Islamic and leftist leaders rejected this Cabinet. The Lebanese considered it as a challenge. Karameh presented his candidature to form a new Government, in a climate of terror imposed by militias. Lootings, killings, and kidnappings continued.
What the books addThe National Movement's call for a general strike, supported by the leading Sunni politicians, Mufti Hassan Khaled, Musa al-Sadr and Raymond Edde, brought down the military cabinet on 26 May; on 28 May Frangieh appointed Rashid Karami Prime Minister.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 28 May 1975

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April 1976

Friday, 9 April 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Parliament amends the constitution to allow an early presidential election.
With Syria enforcing a truce, deputies changed Article 73 of the constitution so that Frangieh's successor could be elected up to six months before his term ended, not two.

Sources differ: Hanf gives 9 April, Yara El Khoury 10 April.

Other date in the books: Saturday, 10 April 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Syrian forces enter the Bekaa; Saiqa moves to relieve besieged Zahleh.
Syrian army tanks appeared at Anjar, Judaydat Yabus and Bayadir al-Adas, inside Lebanon, while Saiqa fighters came in and began to relieve besieged Zahleh. When Jumblatt asked, Dean Brown said the Syrians were clearing roads.

Sources differ: The original entry 62 dates the Syrian entry into the Bekaa to 10 April.

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June 1976

Wednesday, 9 June 1976

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The Arab League decides to send an Arab peace force.
Meeting in Cairo, the Arab League Council appealed for a ceasefire and voted to deploy an Arab peace force. That day an official Tass statement openly condemned Syria's intervention.

Sources differ: Traboulsi and Picard's Liban-Syrie call this force the ADF; Hanf distinguishes it from the Arab Deterrent Force created at Riyadh in October.

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November 1976

Tuesday, 9 November 1976

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Phase 1of the peace plan assigned to the Arab Strike Force takes effect tonight.
The 'Green Helmets' began their deployment at midnight and headed towards the mountain on four simultaneous axes. This positioning was difficult due to the blind bombings of the residential districts of Beirut.
What the books addFisk: Kahhaleh showed white flags and Hazmiyeh's Christians threw rice and rose water at the crews as at least 20 miles of Syrian tanks, guns and troop carriers came down on Beirut from dawn on 10 November.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 10 November 1976

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September 1977

Monday, 26 September 1977

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Israeli tanks pull back from southern Lebanon.
After a week of clashes in the south, Israel's Christian militia allies held a slightly larger strip, along nearly all the frontier from coast to Hermon, and Israel withdrew the tanks it had sent in.

Sources differ: Original entry 149 dates the ceasefire to 25 September.

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March 1979

Monday, 26 March 1979

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Egypt and Israel sign a peace treaty; the Lebanese balance shifts.
In Lebanon the Israeli-Egyptian treaty, signed in Washington, had deep effects. The Lebanese Forces strengthened their cooperation with Israel, and Syria moved closer to the PLO, letting it return in 1979 to its earlier positions south of Beirut. For Traboulsi, the peace process undermined the Sarkis regime.

Sources differ: Traboulsi and Picard give the month only; de Clerck and Malsagne give 26 March.

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May 1981

Saturday, 9 May 1981

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Both sectors in Beirut witnessed a day of terror. Blind bombardments caused 21 dead and 98 wounded. The shelling reached Jounieh, Bkerkeh, and Beit Mery.
What the books addFor 8 May, a day of shelling throughout Habib's meetings, Ménargues gives the US embassy toll: 21 dead and 98 wounded.

Other date in the books: Friday, 8 May 1981

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June 1981

Tuesday, 9 June 1981

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The American envoy Philip Habib began a new round of visits in the region.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 10 June 1981

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May 1982

Sunday, 9 May 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Israel launched several raids in Southern Lebanon.

Other date in the books: Monday, 10 May 1982

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Wednesday, 26 May 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The French Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy declared during his visit in Beirut: 'France stays but is not at war with anyone.'

Other date in the books: Monday, 24 May 1982

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June 1982

Wednesday, 9 June 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

A gigantic air battle took place over the Bekaa. The Israelis were 10 kilometers away from Beirut.
What the books addOn 9 June Israeli aircraft destroyed the Syrian SAM missile batteries in the Bekaa and fought a long air battle with Syrian MiGs. Figures: 22 MiGs downed and 19 batteries destroyed that day (Ménargues); more than 80 planes and all missile batteries lost in five days (Picard). The same evening Israeli paratroopers took Damour, on the coast south of Beirut.

Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 8 June 1982, Thursday, 10 June 1982

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July 1982

Friday, 9 July 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

While Beirut and its suburbs were severely bombed, Damascus refused to receive the Fedayin.
What the books addIn Ménargues, Damascus unofficially signalled no objection to transit through Latakia on 7 July, then officially refused the fighters on 9 July, the day Israeli troops took the Beit Eddine army barracks.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 7 July 1982

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Monday, 26 July 1982

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Heavy bombardment of Beirut; Israeli soldiers cut West Beirut's water and power.
During heavy bombing, West Beirut lost its water at 5.50 p.m., when Israeli soldiers shut the valves at the distribution centre's control room, and then its electricity. Ghassan Tueni, Lebanon's ambassador to the UN, sent the Secretary-General a letter of protest.

Sources differ: Fisk dates a first cut of water and power to 5 July (see check of event 574).

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August 1982

Thursday, 26 August 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Lebanese authorities claimed the withdrawal of the Fedayin from the Bekaa region and the North, while the Italian and French contingents arrived to Beirut.
What the books addMénargues has the Hittin brigade's 1,350 Palestine Liberation Army soldiers driving out to Damascus on 26 August, as Italian Bersaglieri of the San Marco regiment and more French legionnaires came ashore. Robert Fisk dates the first US Marine landing to 25 August; Ménargues to 27 August.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 25 August 1982

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September 1982

Sunday, 26 September 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Army occupied the positions evacuated by the Israelis in Beirut.

Other date in the books: Monday, 27 September 1982

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October 1982

Saturday, 9 October 1982

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The situation in the capital was back to its normal course of action, since the policemen were addressing citations to drivers, the campaign against squatters was intensified, and the confiscation of weapons continued.
What the books addHistorians describe this 'return to normal' as harsh for West Beirut. The army's first task was to evict squatters, most of them refugees from the south, and street hawkers, with no rehousing (Hanf). Police backed by bulldozers razed shanty areas in Ouzai and Raml al-Ali and fired on protesting residents (Traboulsi). Fisk describes arrests of anyone without valid papers on 3 October, when thousands of troops sealed off a whole district. Hundreds of Palestinians and Lebanese Muslims seized in these weeks disappeared.

Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 21 September 1982, Sunday, 3 October 1982

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April 1983

Tuesday, 26 April 1983

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Phalangist militia handed over the alleged assassin of Bechir Gemayel, Habib Chartouni, to the Army.
What the books addMénargues dates the handover to 28 April 1983. Held in an army intelligence cell at the Defence Ministry in Yarze, Chartouni admitted the killing before the military prosecutor that day. The case was later handed by Amine Gemayel's cabinet to a constitutional High Court that had never been created; he was freed on 13 October 1990.

Other date in the books: Thursday, 28 April 1983

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September 1983

Monday, 26 September 1983

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Prime Minister Chafic Wazzan presented the resignation of his government to the chief of State, who refused it.

Other date in the books: Sunday, 5 February 1984

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October 1983

Wednesday, 26 October 1983

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Vice-President Bush visits the ruins of the Marine headquarters.
While the Marines were under grenade attack, George Bush toured their bombed base, declaring terror would neither dictate nor change US foreign policy.

Other date in the books: Sunday, 23 October 1983

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February 1984

Sunday, 26 February 1984

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

The evacuation of the US Marines ends.
The withdrawal of the Marines, ordered by the White House and begun on 7 February, was completed. De Clerck and Malsagne's chronology dates the MNF's departure to 26 February-31 March.

Sources differ: The original (739) gives 17 February for the Marines' departure.

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October 1984

Tuesday, 9 October 1984

The Lebanese war · Added from the books

Fouad Abou Nader is elected commander of the Lebanese Forces.
On 9 October the Lebanese Forces elected the President's candidate, Fouad Abou Nader, Amine Gemayel's nephew and Pierre Gemayel's grandson; it was seen as a Kataeb win. The 'intifada' of 12 March 1985 ousted him.

Sources differ: Ménargues says Gemayel removed Fadi Frem in October 1984; that agrees on the month.

Other date in the books: Tuesday, 12 March 1985

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April 1985

Friday, 26 April 1985

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The Islamic-Progressive militias rushed into Christian villages next to Saida. Thousands of families were forced out of their homes. Tens of Christian villages in the Iqlim El Kharroub and East of Saida were looted, vandalized, and burned. The State was more powerless than ever, the Lebanese Army being unable to stop the massacres.
What the books addAbout fifty Christian villages east of Sidon and in the Iqlim al-Kharroub were taken. Estimates of the Christians displaced range from 70,000 (Picard) and 85,000-86,000 (Hanf) to 80,000-125,000 (de Clerck and Malsagne), many reaching East Beirut by sea; few have returned. Hanf writes that the Kharroub villages were razed with Transport Ministry equipment; Fisk describes Mieh Mieh looted and torn down, and a well filled with corpses at Jiyeh after the Druze took it.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 24 April 1985

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May 1985

Thursday, 9 May 1985

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The executive committee of the Lebanese Forces elected Elie Hobeika president and Samir Geagea chief of staff.
What the books addDates differ: 9 May (de Clerck and Malsagne), 12 May (Hanf, who describes a meeting of the LF command council after Geagea had signed a declaration of loyalty to state institutions), 9 September (Traboulsi). Geagea kept the post of chief of staff.

Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 12 March 1985, Sunday, 12 May 1985, Saturday, 28 December 1985

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March 1986

Sunday, 9 March 1986

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The black series continued. Terrorism hit this time Jeetaoui where a car bomb killed 3 persons and wounded 40 others.
Four French journalists from Antenne 2 were kidnapped in Bir El Abed.
What the books addDe Clerck and Malsagne date the kidnapping of the Antenne 2 crew to 8 March 1986. It was claimed by the "Revolutionary Justice Organisation".

Other date in the books: Saturday, 8 March 1986

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November 1988

Wednesday, 9 November 1988

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

Adel Osseirane names General Sami Khatib, former Chief of the Arab Strike Force, Chief Commander of the Army.
What the books addDe Clerck (p. 283) dates the appointment to 10 November and says Hoss made it; Hanf (p. 571) says early November. On 12 November Aoun's cabinet referred al-Khatib to the military court.

Other date in the books: Thursday, 10 November 1988

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November 1989

Sunday, 26 November 1989

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

The government created by Selim Hoss gets the Parliament's confidence.
What the books addHanf sees the cabinet as falling short of Taif's national unity government, since Michel Sassine stayed in Paris and Kataeb leader Georges Saadé wavered.

Other date in the books: Friday, 24 November 1989

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February 1990

Friday, 9 February 1990

The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology

New dividing lines appeared in the Eastern region and the medias war raged. Hospitals suffered from a serious penury and the Lebanese continued to flee by thousands. That week, 417 were killed and 1,655 wounded.
What the books addTotals for the whole army-Lebanese Forces war differ. De Clerck and Malsagne count over 1,500 victims, fighters and civilians, and say the first three weeks claimed more than the six months of the 1989 war against Syria; the army alone lost 21 officers and 221 soldiers, about 100,000 people moved elsewhere in Lebanon and close to 200,000 went abroad. Hanf estimates about 1,000 dead and 3,500 wounded; Picard 1,000 dead and 3,000 wounded for January-July; Fisk 'well over a thousand' dead in Beirut from end January to end May.

Other date in the books: Wednesday, 31 January 1990

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January 1991

Wednesday, 9 January 1991

After the war · From the books

Parliament votes confidence in Omar Karami's cabinet of former warlords.
Karami's thirty-minister cabinet, formed on 24 December 1990, won thirty-four votes of the forty deputies attending. Its policy statement took up the whole Taif agenda: militias dissolved, Syrian treaties, the displaced home, rebuilding. Seven militia leaders, Berri, Jumblatt, Geagea and Hobeika included, were ministers of state.

Other date in the books: Monday, 24 December 1990

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August 1991

Monday, 26 August 1991

After the war · From the books

The general amnesty law 84/91 is promulgated.
Law 84/91 pardoned political and state-security offences committed before 28 March 1991, except killings of, or attempts on, religious and political figures and diplomats. Critics called this 'no victor, no vanquished' measure a self-amnesty that kept the warlords in power and hid the truth about the war.

Sources differ: Picard (2002) calls it the Amnesty Law of March 1991, probably from its March 1991 cut-off; de Clerck and Abou Zaki give 26 August 1991.

Art and memory
  • film The state censor banned Randa Chahal Sabbag's Civilisées (1999), a savage comedy about 'the war of the Lebanese'.
  • film Only one Lebanese paper wrote about Harb Lubnan, Omar Issawi's fifteen-part al-Jazeera history, yet it became the region's most widely seen account of the war.

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October 2000

Thursday, 26 October 2000

After the war · From the books

Rafiq Hariri forms a new thirty-member cabinet.
Hariri regained the premiership after the 2000 elections, but the hopes that had greeted him in 1992 were gone.

Sources differ: September 2000 (Quéméner) against October (Picard, Abirached).

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July 2005

Tuesday, 26 July 2005

Since 2005 · From the books

Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces, is freed after eleven years in prison.
Released under an amnesty, the former militia leader officially re-founded the Lebanese Forces as a party; his wife told reporters the civil war was over.

Sources differ: 26 July (Abirached) and 'end of July' (Khayat) against 'June 2005' (de Clerck & Malsagne, p. 451-452). Haugbolle's source for the wife's words is al-Nahar of 18 July 2005, which may refer to the amnesty vote rather than the release.

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July 2006

Wednesday, 26 July 2006

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

The Rome conference ends without a ceasefire; Siniora presents his plan.
On 26 July an international conference on Lebanon in Rome, where Siniora presented his seven-point plan, backed a UN-mandated force and pledged urgent work towards a ceasefire without calling for an immediate one. Joseph Bahout saw in it Washington's abandonment of the Lebanese government.

Sources differ: Origin of the plan: shown to Rice in Beirut on 24 July (34 Days; it later calls it 'Siniora's seven-point plan of July 24', pdf:233) against presented in Rome on 26 July (Abirached).

The reports of that day, as they came in

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