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
28 entries on 27 dates · the books disagree on 5
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 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.
January 2015
Sunday, 18 January 2015
Since 2005 · From the books
Israeli strike near Quneitra kills Hezbollah fighters, including Jihad Mughniyeh.
An Israeli helicopter strike near Quneitra, on the Syrian-held Golan, killed six Hezbollah men, including local military chief Jihad Mughniyeh, and Iranian military personnel; Hezbollah hit back at an Israeli convoy in the Shebaa enclave.
An Israeli helicopter strike near Quneitra, on the Syrian-held Golan, killed six Hezbollah men, including local military chief Jihad Mughniyeh, and Iranian military personnel; Hezbollah hit back at an Israeli convoy in the Shebaa enclave.
Friday, 30 January 2015
Since 2005 · From the books
Nasrallah declares that Hezbollah no longer recognises separate battlefields.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah reserved the right to confront the aggressor whenever, wherever and by whatever means it chose.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah reserved the right to confront the aggressor whenever, wherever and by whatever means it chose.
May 2015
Sunday, 24 May 2015
Since 2005 · From the books
On the anniversary of Israel's 2000 withdrawal, Nasrallah says Hezbollah will fight wherever needed in Syria.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah would be wherever in Syria the battle required, speaking on the fifteenth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the South.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah would be wherever in Syria the battle required, speaking on the fifteenth anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from the South.
July 2015
Friday, 17 July 2015
Since 2005 · From the books
Rubbish collection stops in Beirut: the garbage crisis begins.
Sukleen's collection contract expired on 17 July and the post-war dump, meant to last five or six years, was overflowing; with politicians unable to agree on a new site, rubbish piled up.
Sukleen's collection contract expired on 17 July and the post-war dump, meant to last five or six years, was overflowing; with politicians unable to agree on a new site, rubbish piled up.
summer 2015: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
The heights between Qaa and Ras Baalbek become a front of the Syrian war.
Pushed out of the Qalamoun, groups claiming al-Nusra, FSA or, later, Islamic State allegiance used Sunni villages of the eastern Bekaa as rear bases.
Pushed out of the Qalamoun, groups claiming al-Nusra, FSA or, later, Islamic State allegiance used Sunni villages of the eastern Bekaa as rear bases.
August 2015
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Since 2005 · From the books range
'You Stink' protests fill central Beirut (22-23 August).
Protests called by the citizens' collective 'You Stink' denounced government incompetence; clashes between more than ten thousand people and police left dozens injured. Reder says the movement helped bring about the Beirut Madinati list.
Protests called by the citizens' collective 'You Stink' denounced government incompetence; clashes between more than ten thousand people and police left dozens injured. Reder says the movement helped bring about the Beirut Madinati list.
November 2015
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Since 2005 · From the books
Double suicide bombing in Burj al-Barajneh, the deadliest since the civil war.
Two suicide bombers struck in quick succession beside a community centre and a bakery in Burj al-Barajneh, in the Shi'i southern suburb; the Islamic State claimed responsibility. Parliament had sat that day for the first time in months.
Two suicide bombers struck in quick succession beside a community centre and a bakery in Burj al-Barajneh, in the Shi'i southern suburb; the Islamic State claimed responsibility. Parliament had sat that day for the first time in months.
Sources differ: Dead: 43 in de Clerck and Malsagne's chronology, 44 in their epilogue and Quéméner's calendar, 50 in his narrative, which also places the attack in 'Dbaiyeh', evidently a slip, since the calendar says Burj al-Barajneh.
February 2017
February 2017: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
President Aoun tells the UN refugee chief that Syrians cannot stay in Lebanon for good.
Aoun told UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi the refugees could not stay permanently and the world must help them home, but Lebanon would force no one back while Syria was unsafe.
Aoun told UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi the refugees could not stay permanently and the world must help them home, but Lebanon would force no one back while Syria was unsafe.
August 2017
Saturday, 19 August 2017
Since 2005 · From the books
The army launches operation 'Fajr al-Jurud' against the Islamic State on the eastern border.
On President Aoun's orders the army moved against Islamic State and al-Nusra fighters holding the arid hills of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, while Hezbollah attacked al-Nusra from the Syrian side, a rare tacit cooperation. The jihadists held out for several days before surrendering, and a truce let the survivors and their families go to eastern Syria.
On President Aoun's orders the army moved against Islamic State and al-Nusra fighters holding the arid hills of Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa, while Hezbollah attacked al-Nusra from the Syrian side, a rare tacit cooperation. The jihadists held out for several days before surrendering, and a truce let the survivors and their families go to eastern Syria.
November 2017
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Since 2005 · From the books
Saad Hariri announces his resignation from Riyadh.
President Aoun refused the resignation Saad al-Hariri announced live from Riyadh; in the view of some Lebanese officials he was acting under Saudi duress and being held there against his will.
President Aoun refused the resignation Saad al-Hariri announced live from Riyadh; in the view of some Lebanese officials he was acting under Saudi duress and being held there against his will.
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
Since 2005 · From the books
Hariri returns to Beirut and soon withdraws his resignation.
His return followed intense international mediation, especially by France.
His return followed intense international mediation, especially by France.