After the war · From the books
UNIFIL's mandate is renewed and its strength cut to 4,500.
Search the chronologies
all by dates · all chronologieschronologiesallThe road to war 1968–1974The Lebanese war 1975–1990After the war 1991–2005July 2006, as the books tell it 2006Since 2005 2005–2025
31 entries on 30 dates · the books disagree on 6
January 2001
Tuesday, 30 January 2001
February 2001
February 2001: day not established
After the war · From the books
Christian opposition figures form the Qornet Shehwan Gathering.
Patriarch Sfeir informally led this anti-Syrian Christian gathering of the centre-right, whose members ranged from ex-president Amine Gemayel to Samir Frangieh, formerly of the National Movement.
Patriarch Sfeir informally led this anti-Syrian Christian gathering of the centre-right, whose members ranged from ex-president Amine Gemayel to Samir Frangieh, formerly of the National Movement.
Sources differ: February 2001 (Haugbolle) or April 2001 (Picard).
March 2001
March 2001: day not established
After the war · From the books
On a US tour, Patriarch Sfeir demands that Syrian forces leave Lebanon.
April 2001
April 2001: day not established
After the war · From the books
The 'Memory for the Future' colloquium breaks the silence on the war.
Amal Makarem convened it at the UN building in Beirut: Lebanese journalists, academics and lawyers met transitional-justice specialists from Germany, Rwanda and South Africa. Several organisers later set up the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir.
Amal Makarem convened it at the UN building in Beirut: Lebanese journalists, academics and lawyers met transitional-justice specialists from Germany, Rwanda and South Africa. Several organisers later set up the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir.
Sources differ: April 2001 (Haugbolle) or March 2001 (title cited by Reder).
Art and memory
- testimony Haugbolle's notes cite the 111101.net artist page and 111101.com: the artist Naji Zahar, he writes, started a war-memory discussion group in the late 1990s and later created 111101, an award-winning online memory database.
After the war · From the books
Rival demonstrations over Syria revive fears of war around 13 April.
Haugbolle notes that in April 2001 several newspapers wondered whether war could return: they reported ex-militiamen stirring in both East and West Beirut after rival rallies, some against Syria, some for the government.
Haugbolle notes that in April 2001 several newspapers wondered whether war could return: they reported ex-militiamen stirring in both East and West Beirut after rival rallies, some against Syria, some for the government.
May 2001
Thursday, 24 May 2001
After the war · From the books
A national holiday marks one year since the 'liberation' of the south.
Sources differ: Abirached dates the anniversary 24 May; de Clerck and Malsagne date the withdrawal itself to 25 May (see the withdrawal entry).
June 2001
June 2001: day not established
After the war · From the books
Syrian troops partly withdraw from Beirut.
In June 2001, a year after Bashar al-Assad took power, some Syrian units moved from Beirut and its eastern suburbs to the north and east, while the bulk of the army stayed. Reported troop numbers: 25,000 after 2000, 21,000 in 2001, 17,000 in 2004.
In June 2001, a year after Bashar al-Assad took power, some Syrian units moved from Beirut and its eastern suburbs to the north and east, while the bulk of the army stayed. Reported troop numbers: 25,000 after 2000, 21,000 in 2001, 17,000 in 2004.
August 2001
Saturday, 4 August 2001
After the war · From the books
Patriarch Sfeir's visit to the Chouf seals a Maronite-Druze reconciliation.
Patriarch Sfeir toured the Chouf and called on Walid Jumblatt, eighteen years after the Mountain war; thousands of villagers applauded. Yet most displaced Christians still did not return.
Patriarch Sfeir toured the Chouf and called on Walid Jumblatt, eighteen years after the Mountain war; thousands of villagers applauded. Yet most displaced Christians still did not return.
August 2001: day not established
After the war · From the books
Hundreds of Lebanese Forces and Aoun supporters are arrested.
Reacting to the Maronite–Druze reconciliation, the security services detained anti-Syrian activists for allegedly plotting against the state, and plainclothes police forcibly broke up a protest outside Beirut's Palace of Justice. The cabinet and parliament approved the crackdown.
Reacting to the Maronite–Druze reconciliation, the security services detained anti-Syrian activists for allegedly plotting against the state, and plainclothes police forcibly broke up a protest outside Beirut's Palace of Justice. The cabinet and parliament approved the crackdown.
Sources differ: Hundreds (Picard) or 200 (Quéméner).
October 2001
Monday, 22 October 2001
After the war · From the books
After Hezbollah strikes Israeli posts at Shebaa, Israel hits back with raids in the south.
2001
late 2001 (after 11 September): day not established
After the war · From the books
The United States lists Hezbollah as a terrorist group; Beirut refuses to act.
Washington asked Lebanon to freeze Hezbollah's assets and disarm it; the government refused, citing the unfinished Israeli withdrawal.
Washington asked Lebanon to freeze Hezbollah's assets and disarm it; the government refused, citing the unfinished Israeli withdrawal.
January 2008
Friday, 25 January 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
Intelligence officer Captain Wissam Eid is killed.
Wissam Eid was an officer of the intelligence services.
Wissam Eid was an officer of the intelligence services.
February 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
Hezbollah security chief Imad Mughniyeh is assassinated in Damascus.
Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus; Interpol had been seeking him for twenty years over bombings and abductions.
Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus; Interpol had been seeking him for twenty years over bombings and abductions.
May 2008
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Since 2005 · From the books range
Hezbollah and its allies take over West Beirut (May 2008).
When the government moved to shut Hezbollah's private telecommunications network and dismissed the airport security chief, Hezbollah, Amal and the SSNP took West Beirut within hours, disarming Future Movement fighters and clashing with the PSP as the army held back. Fighting reached the Chouf and Tripoli. Picard likens it to a brief return of the civil war.
When the government moved to shut Hezbollah's private telecommunications network and dismissed the airport security chief, Hezbollah, Amal and the SSNP took West Beirut within hours, disarming Future Movement fighters and clashing with the PSP as the army held back. Fighting reached the Chouf and Tripoli. Picard likens it to a brief return of the civil war.
Sources differ: End date: 14 May (Confluences) or 21 May (de Clerck & Malsagne chronology). Deaths: nearly a hundred (de Clerck & Malsagne) against more than sixty (Quéméner).
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
The government cancels its two decisions against Hezbollah.
The government rescinded the two moves against Hezbollah that had triggered the fighting: outlawing its private telecoms network and sacking the airport security chief.
The government rescinded the two moves against Hezbollah that had triggered the fighting: outlawing its private telecoms network and sacking the airport security chief.
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.
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.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
Army commander Michel Suleiman is elected President of the Republic.
His election, provided for by the Doha agreement, ended the vacancy that began when Émile Lahoud's term expired.
His election, provided for by the Doha agreement, ended the vacancy that began when Émile Lahoud's term expired.
July 2008
July 2008: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Assad and Suleiman meet in Paris.
The Emir of Qatar met Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's new president, Michel Sleiman, at the Élysée, where Sarkozy had invited them for the Union for the Mediterranean summit.
The Emir of Qatar met Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's new president, Michel Sleiman, at the Élysée, where Sarkozy had invited them for the Union for the Mediterranean summit.
August 2008
August 2008: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
A bombing kills soldiers in Tripoli.
Picard notes that after the August 2008 attack on soldiers, Tripoli had a deadly bombing every year.
Picard notes that after the August 2008 attack on soldiers, Tripoli had a deadly bombing every year.
September 2008
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
Druze official Saleh Aridi is killed in a bombing.
Saleh Aridi was a Druze political figure.
Saleh Aridi was a Druze political figure.
October 2008
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Since 2005 · From the books
Lebanon and Syria establish diplomatic relations for the first time.
The two states agreed to swap ambassadors; Picard judges it an empty gesture aimed at Syria's image abroad.
The two states agreed to swap ambassadors; Picard judges it an empty gesture aimed at Syria's image abroad.
January 2011
January 2011: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Hariri's government collapses as Hezbollah's ministers resign.
Hezbollah's ministers and their allies resigned, toppling the cabinet during the dispute over the UN tribunal's Hariri inquiry.
Hezbollah's ministers and their allies resigned, toppling the cabinet during the dispute over the UN tribunal's Hariri inquiry.
February 2011
February-March 2011: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Weekly demonstrations call for abolishing the sectarian system.
Weekly marches against the sectarian system drew secular and leftist activists inspired by the Arab Spring; Lebanon, they said, had some twenty dictators, not one.
Weekly marches against the sectarian system drew secular and leftist activists inspired by the Arab Spring; Lebanon, they said, had some twenty dictators, not one.
March 2011
March 2011: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
The Syrian uprising begins and immediately plays out in Lebanon.
Lebanese took sides from the revolt's first month; dozens of young Lebanese and Palestinians crossed from Akkar and Hermel to join the rebels around Homs.
Lebanese took sides from the revolt's first month; dozens of young Lebanese and Palestinians crossed from Akkar and Hermel to join the rebels around Homs.
June 2011
June 2011: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Najib Mikati forms a government dominated by Hezbollah's allies.
Hezbollah's allies took many cabinet seats; Picard calls it an '8 March' government.
Hezbollah's allies took many cabinet seats; Picard calls it an '8 March' government.
September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Since 2005 · From the books
Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals renew their 2006 declaration.
Nine months into the Syrian uprising, the signatories reissued their 2006 appeal, 'For the sake of the Lebanese-Syrian future'.
Nine months into the Syrian uprising, the signatories reissued their 2006 appeal, 'For the sake of the Lebanese-Syrian future'.
September 2011: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai backs Bashar al-Assad.
Patriarch Bechara Rai sided with Assad, fearing Islamists would win, though his community was hostile to the Syrian regime.
Patriarch Bechara Rai sided with Assad, fearing Islamists would win, though his community was hostile to the Syrian regime.
February 2012
February 2012: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Fighting in Tripoli between Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen (February-December 2012).
From February to December, Tripoli's pro-regime Alawite quarter of Jabal Mohsen and its Sunni quarter of Bab al-Tebbaneh, which backed the Syrian opposition, clashed.
From February to December, Tripoli's pro-regime Alawite quarter of Jabal Mohsen and its Sunni quarter of Bab al-Tebbaneh, which backed the Syrian opposition, clashed.
June 2012
Monday, 11 June 2012
Since 2005 · From the books
The Baabda Declaration commits Lebanon to 'dissociation' from regional conflicts.
The declaration, agreed at President Sleiman's National Dialogue, pledged 'dissociation' from regional conflicts and border control, mainly towards Syria; Picard considers the promise empty from the outset.
The declaration, agreed at President Sleiman's National Dialogue, pledged 'dissociation' from regional conflicts and border control, mainly towards Syria; Picard considers the promise empty from the outset.
October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
Since 2005 · From the books
Intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan is assassinated.
Seven people died along with Wissam al-Hassan, head of ISF intelligence and an investigator of Hariri's assassination, in a Beirut car bombing.
Seven people died along with Wissam al-Hassan, head of ISF intelligence and an investigator of Hariri's assassination, in a Beirut car bombing.
2012
2012: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Former minister Michel Samaha is arrested.
Picard treats the arrest as evidence that Syrian-paid agents took part in the unrest after the 2005 withdrawal.
Picard treats the arrest as evidence that Syrian-paid agents took part in the unrest after the 2005 withdrawal.