41 entries on 39 dates · the books disagree on 41
January 1985
Tuesday, 8 January 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The security plan for the coastal road and the Iqlim El Kharroub was finally put into execution. The Internal Security Forces started their deployment in these regions.
What the books addHanf dates the army's advance to 9 January 1985, the day he says the Israelis began to pull back. In his account the plan, agreed with Walid Jumblatt, the Sidon Nasserites and the region's Christian deputies, sent a mainly Muslim battalion into the Iqlim al-Kharroub and the Sidon hinterland.
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 9 January 1985
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Saturday, 12 January 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The army deployed on the coastal road South of Beirut and in the Iqlim EL Kharroub after the withdrawal of the Lebanese Forces and the PSP militiamen. The government appointed Edmond Naim Governor of the Central Bank, Michel Samaha CEO of Télé Liban, Mohammed Beydoun president of the Council of the South, and Ayoub Hemayed General Director of the Information.
What the books addDe Clerck and Malsagne say Edmond Naim succeeded Michel el-Khoury at the Central Bank because both the militia chiefs and the unity cabinet could accept him.
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 9 January 1985
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Monday, 14 January 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Israeli government decided to withdraw its army from South Lebanon progressively.
What the books addThe withdrawal was unilateral and staged. Antoine Lahad's militia, renamed the South Lebanon Army and backed by Israel, was to police the 'security zone' Israel kept. Historians date the departure from Sidon to 17 February (Traboulsi), and the fall-back to the security zone to May-June 1985 (de Clerck and Malsagne).
Other date in the books: Sunday, 17 February 1985
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February 1985
Sunday, 17 February 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The army made a triumphal entrance in Saida. The transition was smooth and no incident followed the Israeli departure.
What the books addTraboulsi dates Israel's exit from Sidon to 17 February 1985. Fisk describes Christians and Muslims briefly celebrating together when Lebanese troops arrived.
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 9 January 1985
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February 1985: day not established
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Hezbollah makes its existence public with an 'Open Letter'.
Hezbollah, formed in secret in 1982, came into the open with an 'Open Letter' setting out its programme, addressed 'to the deprived of Lebanon and the world'. It demanded Israel's final expulsion from Lebanon and the departure of the United States and France.
Sources differ: The Confluences article is by the same authors as Le Liban en guerre, so it is not independent confirmation.
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Israel applies its 'iron fist' policy in the south (February-June).
When guerrillas struck again after the pull-out from Sidon, Israel hit Shia villages with large raids, mass arrests, curfews and demolitions, until it withdrew to the 'security zone' in June.
Sources differ: Picard calls it 'Operation Iron Hand'; Fisk the 'iron fist'.
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March 1985
Friday, 8 March 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
A mass killing took place in Bir El Abed. A car bomb killed 62 persons and wounded 200 others, including a large number of women, children and elderly persons.
What the books addSheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, the target, escaped with his bodyguard Imad Mughniyeh. Fisk dates the car bomb to 9 March and writes of more than 80 dead, nearly all civilians, citing the Washington Post on CIA involvement. De Clerck and Malsagne give 80 dead and 256 wounded and cite confessions by local agents, traced by Hezbollah, that the CIA commissioned it with Mossad help and Saudi funds.
Other date in the books: Saturday, 9 March 1985
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Tuesday, 12 March 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
The 'intifada' of Samir Geagea and Elie Hobeika takes over the Lebanese Forces.
Calling for an 'independent Christian decision' and an end to concessions to Syria, Samir Geagea, Elie Hobeika and Karim Pakradouni led a revolt within the Lebanese Forces against President Amin Gemayel and the Kataeb leadership. The rebels took the LF headquarters in Ashrafieh after its main barracks north of Beirut; the army had to keep them apart from Kataeb loyalists.
Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne say the intifada ousted LF commander Fouad Abou Nader, the president's nephew; Hanf presents it as a revolt against the Kataeb leadership and the president. De Clerck and Malsagne's figure of about 1,000 dead covers both intifadas (1985 and 1986) together.
Art and memory- testimony Jocelyne Khoueiry, in the Kataeb women's unit since 1975, quit and went back to civilian life after Geagea's intifada of March 1985; she felt 'our cause had been betrayed'.
- place Shellfire and snipers hit the Rizk Hospital in Ashrafieh in 1985, when East Beirut's militia factions fought each other.
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Thursday, 14 March 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
British metallurgist Geoffrey Nash is kidnapped in West Beirut.
Three gunmen abducted Geoffrey Nash near his home in Makhoul Street. Nash, a British metallurgist, worked for the Lebanese industrial institute.
Other date in the books: Tuesday, 8 January 1985
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Friday, 15 March 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
British businessman Brian Levick is kidnapped in West Beirut.
On rue Australie five gunmen took Brian Levick, the Coral oil company's British general manager, out of his car; Terry Anderson was seized twelve and a half hours later.
Other date in the books: Tuesday, 8 January 1985
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Saturday, 16 March 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The regional director of the Associated Press, Terry Anderson, was kidnapped in West Beirut. Many other US and British nationals had already been kidnapped. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for these acts.
What the books addTerry Anderson was the AP's Beirut bureau chief. He was seized near the Ain Mreisseh mosque and held for more than six years. Two Britons had been kidnapped in the two days before him; Islamic Jihad claimed all three on 17 March.
Art and memory- book Terry Anderson's memoir Den of Lions (1993) recounts his captivity; Fisk devotes a chapter, 'Wait for me', to his kidnapping.
Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 8 January 1985, Sunday, 17 March 1985
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Monday, 25 March 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
British writer Alec Collett is kidnapped at Khalde.
Alec Collett, 64, a British freelance writing on Palestinian refugees for the UN, was never freed. Gunmen took him a hundred yards from Amal's Khalde checkpoint; the 'Revolutionary Organisation of Socialist Muslims' claimed it.
Other date in the books: Friday, 22 March 1985
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mid March 1985: day not established
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
A suicide car bomb kills 12 Israeli soldiers near Marjayoun.
A suicide car bomb killed 12 soldiers in an Israeli convoy above Marjayoun. Israel's reprisal fell on Zrariyeh (entry of 11 March).
Sources differ: Fisk places the attack after the Beirut bombing he dates to 9 March; the original entry dates the Zrariyeh reprisal to 11 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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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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April 1985: day not established
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Antoine Lahad sets up the South Lebanon Army.
With Israel gone from Tyre, Antoine Lahad recast the Army of Free Lebanon as the South Lebanon Army, an Israeli-funded and Israeli-armed militia that held the 'security zone'.
Sources differ: The SLA's make-up: mostly Shia troops under Christian cadres (de Clerck and Malsagne) or mostly Christian (Picard).
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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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Monday, 20 May 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
After 20 hours of ferocious combats, Amal and the sixth brigade took control of the Palestinian camps.
What the books addAmal, with the army's mainly Shia Sixth Brigade, attacked Sabra, Chatila and Bourj al-Barajneh on 19 or 20 May. Bourj al-Barajneh held out under siege, Chatila's defenders kept a small area, and Sabra was overrun and razed. Hanf reports massacres when Sabra and Chatila fell, with estimates of 800 to 2,000 Palestinians killed by Shia militiamen in 1985.
Art and memory- novel Hanan al-Shaykh placed her 1992 novel Beirut Blues (Barid Bayrut) in the War of the Camps, during the summer of 1985.
Other dates in the books: Sunday, 19 May 1985, Wednesday, 22 May 1985
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Wednesday, 22 May 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Amal takes Sabra camp.
Part of Sabra was destroyed and made a car park after Amal took the camp in the first round of the 'War of the Camps'.
Sources differ: Hanf says Sabra was destroyed and overrun 'by early June'; the original entry of 20 May speaks of all the camps taken.
Other date in the books: Monday, 20 May 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Michel Seurat and Jean-Paul Kauffmann are kidnapped on the airport road.
The French researcher Michel Seurat and the journalist Jean-Paul Kauffmann were abducted on the airport road. Seurat died in captivity.
Sources differ: De Clerck and Malsagne date Seurat's death to 1986.
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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
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Tuesday, 28 May 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
As part of the harassment to which were subject foreign nationals, the director of the American University Hospital, David Jacobsen, was kidnapped while he was leaving the Medical Gate.
Other date in the books: Wednesday, 22 May 1985
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June 1985
Thursday, 6 June 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Israel officially completed its withdrawal from South Lebanon. Nevertheless, several Israeli soldiers continued to occupy the Security Zone. In reality, the last Israeli armored vehicle left Lebanon on June 10 after an accident in which Israel lost 654 deaths and 3890 injured, and four disappeared soldiers.
What the books addIsraeli losses: de Clerck and Malsagne count 670 dead and nearly 3,000 wounded between June 1982 and June 1985 (and 721 dead and 3,890 wounded for the whole war); Traboulsi writes of some 500 dead. Israel kept a 'security zone' policed with Lahad's South Lebanon Army.
Art and memory- place Israel opened a clandestine prison at Khiam in 1985; Soha Bechara, a communist resistance fighter, was held there for ten years.
Other dates in the books: Sunday, 17 February 1985, Saturday, 28 December 1985
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Monday, 17 June 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Damascus agreement put an end to the Camps War that caused, in four weeks, 700 deaths and 2,500 injured.
What the books addThis ceasefire closed only the first round (May-June 1985) of the 'War of the Camps', also known as the 'Ramadan war'; by the time Syria imposed it, Fisk reports, 600 people had died. Sieges and fighting returned in 1986 and went on until 1987-1988; de Clerck and Malsagne count 2,000 to 3,000 victims in all.
Art and memory- book Hala Abou Zaki studies how the Palestinians' war record serves to justify excluding them today; the War of the Camps (1985-1987), waged by Amal with Syrian help, finished what was left of the PLO.
Other dates in the books: Tuesday, 12 March 1985, Sunday, 19 May 1985, Wednesday, 22 May 1985
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June 1985: day not established
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Syrian 'observers' are posted in West Beirut.
Syrian officers, absent from West Beirut since 1982, came back to monitor the ceasefire between its militias.
Sources differ: Picard dates the first observers to June 1985; Hanf to August.
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August 1985
Friday, 30 August 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Lebanese Forces ended their military presence in Zahleh and closed their offices in the town.
What the books addHanf dates the Lebanese Forces' withdrawal to 31 August, after Shia militias had shelled Zahleh from 11 August and Christian notables mediated; Syrian troops entered on 7 September.
Other date in the books: Sunday, 11 August 1985
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September 1985
Wednesday, 4 September 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
14 dead and 74 injured persons were reported in Zahleh as a result of a car bomb explosion. Three days later, the Syrians invaded the town.
What the books addSyrian troops entered Zahleh on 7 September after the Lebanese Forces' withdrawal (Hanf).
Other date in the books: Sunday, 11 August 1985
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Saturday, 7 September 1985
The Lebanese war · Added from the books
Syrian troops enter Zahleh.
After the withdrawal of the Lebanese Forces, Syrian troops entered Zahleh to restore order.
Other date in the books: Sunday, 11 August 1985
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Monday, 16 September 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
In Tripoli, ten soldiers from the Lebanese Army were killed and 35 others wounded by shells that fell on the Bahjat Ghanem barracks.
What the books addOn 7 October, Hanf writes, 20,000 Syrian soldiers entered Tripoli, after pro-Syrian groups had in September 1985 attacked the Tawheed movement then holding the city; some 250,000 civilians fled.
Other date in the books: Monday, 7 October 1985
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Monday, 30 September 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Three diplomats from the Soviet embassy and the chancellery's doctor were kidnapped in West Beirut. One of them was killed later, while the three others were released on October 30. Twelve Western nationals remained held hostages by Islamist organizations.
What the books addFisk dates it 1 October 1985, de Clerck and Malsagne September. Arkady Katkov was killed. Fisk thinks Sunni fundamentalists wanted Moscow to make Syria halt its Tripoli offensive against Tawheed. The others' release is credited probably to the KGB and Syria by de Clerck and Malsagne, to Syrian mediation by Hanf.
Other date in the books: Tuesday, 1 October 1985
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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
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Wednesday, 20 November 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
Violent combats opposed Amal and the PSP in West Beirut. Five days of hell followed for the residents of this region. 65 persons were killed and 250 were wounded.
What the books addHanf's 'Flag War': on 21 November alone, Shi'i and Druze fighters fought with tanks and artillery, leaving 65 dead and over 400 abducted. PSP militiamen had replaced the national flags Sixth Brigade soldiers put on public buildings for Independence Day with their party banner.
Other date in the books: Thursday, 21 November 1985
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December 1985
Saturday, 28 December 1985
The Lebanese war · 111101 entry in the original chronology
The Lebanese Forces, the PSP and Amal signed an agreement in Damascus, putting an end to the Lebanese war.
The year ended with some hope for the Lebanese, following the signature of the tripartite agreement, while the economy was agonizing and hundreds of Lebanese and foreign hostages were living in horrifying daily conditions.
What the books addSigned in Damascus by Elie Hobeika (Lebanese Forces), Nabih Berri (Amal) and Walid Jumblatt (PSP) under Syrian sponsorship. It provided for Christian-Muslim parity during a transition towards the end of political sectarianism, a stronger prime minister and cabinet, a senate, and 'strategic complementarity' with Syria. It did not end the war: President Gemayel refused it and, in January 1986, Samir Geagea's forces drove Hobeika out of East Beirut. Its provisions were largely taken up in the Taif Agreement of 1989.
Other date in the books: Tuesday, 12 March 1985
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March 2000
Sunday, 5 March 2000
After the war · From the books
Israel's cabinet decides on a unilateral withdrawal from the south.
Barak's plan set 7 July 2000 for leaving the 'security zone'. Beirut, deferring to a stalled Damascus, prepared nothing.
Sources differ: Cabinet decision on 5 March (Abirached); Picard places Barak's announcement in April.
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March 2000: day not established
After the war · From the books
The Clinton-Assad summit in Geneva fails.
After the Geneva summit failed, Barak announced that Israel would leave the south entirely, with or without an agreement. Mermier sees the Syrian–Lebanese track of talks with Israel ending there; Picard argues that Damascus lost the international latitude it had enjoyed over Lebanon.
Sources differ: February (Picard 2002), March (Picard 2016; 33 jours p. 210) or April 2000 (33 jours p. 176). March has the most support.
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May 2000
Wednesday, 24 May 2000
After the war · From the books
Israel ends its occupation of southern Lebanon.
Israel pulled out overnight on 23–24 May as the South Lebanon Army, deserting since early May, collapsed. Villagers streamed home, crowds forced open the Khiam jail and several thousand SLA men and relatives left for Israel. The Shebaa Farms, the Kfarshuba hills and Lebanon's part of Ghajar stayed occupied.
Sources differ: 24 May (Abirached, Tarraf; Picard: night of 23–24) or 25 May (de Clerck and Malsagne, book and article). Occupation lasted 18 years (from 1982, de Clerck and Malsagne) or 22 years (from 1978, Abirached).
Other date in the books: Thursday, 25 May 2000
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June 2000
June 2000: day not established
After the war · From the books
Hafez al-Assad dies; his son Bashar succeeds him.
Hafez al-Assad's death in June 2000, a month after Israel quit the south, briefly allowed freer criticism of Syria's presence in Lebanon.
Sources differ: June 2000 (Haugbolle, Picard 2016 ch. IV), May 2000 (Picard 2016 ch. V) or 10 June 2001 (Picard 2002, clearly a misprint for 2000).
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July 2000
Sunday, 30 July 2000
After the war · From the books
Lahoud says the army's role in the south will be defined 'in due course'.
Lahoud's Army Day speech left the army's role undefined, so no national strategy emerged; the government called Hezbollah's continuing fight a 'national struggle'.
Sources differ: 30 July (Picard 2002) or 29 July (Picard 2016).
Other date in the books: Saturday, 29 July 2000
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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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October 2000: day not established
After the war · From the books
The Maronite bishops openly criticise Syria.
The bishops' open criticism of Syria echoed protests by Aoun's followers and ex-Lebanese Forces members; Picard sees clergy now contesting Syria's armed presence.
Sources differ: Picard dates the bishops' communiqué to October 2000.
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November 2018
Monday, 12 November 2018
Since 2005 · From the books
Parliament adopts Law 105 on the missing and forcibly disappeared.
Wadad Halwani, head of the committee of families of the kidnapped and disappeared, whose husband was taken in 1982, broke down as deputies applauded. The law created a commission to trace detainees believed alive in Syria, identify remains in mass graves and investigate wartime forced disappearances.
Sources differ: Estimates differ. The most quoted figure, 17,415, comes from the Committee of the Kidnapped and Disappeared (founded 1982); NGOs count 5,000 to 8,000 forced disappearances (Hassoun Abou Jaoudé; de Clerck & Malsagne p. 419).
Art and memory- testimony Wadad Halwani founded the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Disappeared after her husband was abducted in 1982. He is still missing; the vote renewed her hope.
- film De Clerck and Malsagne cite Daniele Rugo's documentary The Soil and the Sea (2023), co-produced with Carmen Hassoun Abou Jaoudé, among war-memory works inspired by the missing.
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