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
34 entries on 33 dates · the books disagree on 4
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 2014
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Double bombing in Haret Hreik kills nine.
The attack struck the Shiite district of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburb.
The attack struck the Shiite district of Haret Hreik in Beirut's southern suburb.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Suicide bombing in Hermel.
The suicide attack hit the town of Hermel in the northern Bekaa.
The suicide attack hit the town of Hermel in the northern Bekaa.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Suicide bombing in Haret Hreik.
A further suicide attack hit Haret Hreik in the southern suburb.
A further suicide attack hit Haret Hreik in the southern suburb.
January 2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
The Special Tribunal begins hearing witnesses.
Hezbollah members and accomplices in the Syrian regime were implicated in the STL trial near The Hague, where Lebanese witnesses appeared for both sides.
Hezbollah members and accomplices in the Syrian regime were implicated in the STL trial near The Hague, where Lebanese witnesses appeared for both sides.
February 2014
Monday, 3 February 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Suicide bombing in Choueifat.
A suicide bomber struck at Choueifat, south of Beirut.
A suicide bomber struck at Choueifat, south of Beirut.
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Bombing at the Iranian cultural centre in Haret Hreik kills six.
The bomb targeted the Iranian cultural centre in Haret Hreik.
The bomb targeted the Iranian cultural centre in Haret Hreik.
February 2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Tammam Salam forms a 'national unity' government.
Picard: the Salam cabinet rejected any asylum policy, and Lebanon refused official camps for Syrian refugees.
Picard: the Salam cabinet rejected any asylum policy, and Lebanon refused official camps for Syrian refugees.
March 2014
March-September 2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Repeated suicide attacks on Hezbollah areas in the southern suburb and the Bekaa.
Many suicide bombings between March and September 2014 were aimed at Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh and the Bekaa.
Many suicide bombings between March and September 2014 were aimed at Hezbollah targets in Dahiyeh and the Bekaa.
April 2014
spring 2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
A curfew for Syrians is posted in Bourj Hammoud.
After a brawl between young Lebanese and Syrian immigrants, the municipality of largely Armenian Bourj Hammoud posted notices barring foreigners and Syrians from its streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
After a brawl between young Lebanese and Syrian immigrants, the municipality of largely Armenian Bourj Hammoud posted notices barring foreigners and Syrians from its streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
May 2014
May 2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Michel Suleiman's term ends; a second presidential vacancy begins.
No head of state would be elected for twenty-nine months.
No head of state would be elected for twenty-nine months.
August 2014
Friday, 15 August 2014
Since 2005 · From the books
Ahmad al-Assir is captured.
De Clerck and Malsagne's chronology records the arrest of Ahmad al-Assir, the Salafist preacher whose followers fought the army at Abra in June 2013.
De Clerck and Malsagne's chronology records the arrest of Ahmad al-Assir, the Salafist preacher whose followers fought the army at Abra in June 2013.
2014
2014: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
New rules restrict Syrian refugees' residence and work.
Refugees, a quarter to a third of the population from 2014, neared 1.3 million a year later. Lebanon refused official camps; Syrians, once exempt, now needed an entry visa and a Lebanese sponsor (kafil), and most jobs were closed to them under 2014 decrees of the Tammam Salam government.
Refugees, a quarter to a third of the population from 2014, neared 1.3 million a year later. Lebanon refused official camps; Syrians, once exempt, now needed an entry visa and a Lebanese sponsor (kafil), and most jobs were closed to them under 2014 decrees of the Tammam Salam government.
March 2016
Saturday, 19 March 2016
Since 2005 · From the books
Beirut's rubbish is finally collected and taken to new landfills.
Quéméner notes that one of the two new landfills had been sited too near Beirut's international airport.
Quéméner notes that one of the two new landfills had been sited too near Beirut's international airport.
April 2016
April 2016: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Refugee pressure: the labour minister asks for help; Hollande pledges aid.
In April 2016 Labour Minister Sejaan Azzi, citing 25 per cent unemployment and 1.5 million Syrians, asked the US ambassador to take the refugee burden off Lebanon. Visiting Beirut that month, François Hollande announced 50 million euros a year in refugee aid for 2016-2018.
In April 2016 Labour Minister Sejaan Azzi, citing 25 per cent unemployment and 1.5 million Syrians, asked the US ambassador to take the refugee burden off Lebanon. Visiting Beirut that month, François Hollande announced 50 million euros a year in refugee aid for 2016-2018.
May 2016
Sunday, 8 May 2016
Since 2005 · From the books
Beirut municipal elections: Hariri's list beats the civil-society list Beirut Madinati.
Saad Hariri's list won Beirut's council over Beirut Madinati ('Beirut, my city'), a civil-society slate that proposed deliberative urban planning and fielded engineers, architects, artists and researchers; Reder links it to the 2015 'You Stink' protests. Some 80 per cent of voters abstained.
Saad Hariri's list won Beirut's council over Beirut Madinati ('Beirut, my city'), a civil-society slate that proposed deliberative urban planning and fielded engineers, architects, artists and researchers; Reder links it to the 2015 'You Stink' protests. Some 80 per cent of voters abstained.
Art and memory
- artwork A 111101 project presents the 2016 Beirut municipal vote interactively, from the results and the electoral rolls (/Projects/Municipalities/results-beirut.php and voters-beirut.php).
July 2016
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Since 2005 · From the books
A Syrian refugee camp is burned in Akkar.
A small Syrian refugee camp in Akkar, a poor Sunni region, was set on fire on the night of 5-6 July.
A small Syrian refugee camp in Akkar, a poor Sunni region, was set on fire on the night of 5-6 July.
summer 2016: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Beit Beirut, the memory museum in the Barakat building, is inaugurated but stays closed.
The municipality inaugurated Beit Beirut, the old snipers' building on the demarcation line, but kept it shut; its 2008-2016 restoration saw repeated quarrels among the municipality, architect and scientific committee. Paris's mayor visited in September.
The municipality inaugurated Beit Beirut, the old snipers' building on the demarcation line, but kept it shut; its 2008-2016 restoration saw repeated quarrels among the municipality, architect and scientific committee. Paris's mayor visited in September.
Art and memory
- memorial Beit Beirut, the old Barakat building on the demarcation line, was the municipality's planned museum of the city's memory. Reder finds that in 2016-2019 artists and NGOs, not the municipality, kept it alive.
October 2016
Monday, 31 October 2016
Since 2005 · From the books
Michel Aoun is elected President after twenty-nine months of vacancy.
Aoun, 81, ended a vacancy of over two years. A surplus envelope voided the last two of three rounds held before his election, Quéméner notes.
Aoun, 81, ended a vacancy of over two years. A surplus envelope voided the last two of three rounds held before his election, Quéméner notes.
November 2016
Thursday, 3 November 2016
Since 2005 · From the books
Saad Hariri is designated Prime Minister.
Hariri was named three days after Aoun's election.
Hariri was named three days after Aoun's election.
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.