After the war · From the books
Israel bombs the south and reinforces its positions at Shebaa.
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49 entries on 46 dates · the books disagree on 9
February 2003
Friday, 28 February 2003
April 2003
Sunday, 13 April 2003
After the war · From the books
'Remember, so as not to return': a campaign for a national day of memory.
In al-Safir leading politicians openly backed remembering the war for the first time. On 13 April hundreds gathered in Martyrs' Square, handing out flowers and collecting signatures for a national memory day and a memorial; earlier, the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir and the families' Committee had screened war documentaries unseen in Lebanon at Masrah al-Medina.
In al-Safir leading politicians openly backed remembering the war for the first time. On 13 April hundreds gathered in Martyrs' Square, handing out flowers and collecting signatures for a national memory day and a memorial; earlier, the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir and the families' Committee had screened war documentaries unseen in Lebanon at Masrah al-Medina.
Art and memory
- place Architect Mona El-Hallak came upon the Barakat building, above the old demarcation line at Sodeco, in 1996, and from 1997 led APSAD's campaign to save it. In 2003 the municipality expropriated it for $3 million for Beit Beirut.
- film Films Haugbolle cites on postwar amnesia include Ghassan Salhab's Beyrouth Fantôme (1999) and Terra Incognita (2002); the novel Ya Salam (1999) by Najwa Barakat follows former militiamen in peacetime.
Other date in the books: Tuesday, 8 April 2003
April 2003: day not established
After the war · From the books
A replica of the 1975 bus becomes a memory installation in Beirut.
Hassan Saouli deliberately kept graphic images out: to mark 28 years since 13 April, he parked a bus of the 1975 model on a central Beirut street, with videos and texts on guilt and forgiveness inside.
Hassan Saouli deliberately kept graphic images out: to mark 28 years since 13 April, he parked a bus of the 1975 model on a central Beirut street, with videos and texts on guilt and forgiveness inside.
May 2003
Tuesday, 27 May 2003
After the war · From the books
Ghassan Tueni answers a Syrian general's threats against the Lebanese.
In al-Nahar Ghassan Tueni addressed Bashar al-Assad as an equal, protesting at threats against the Lebanese by General Bahjat Sleiman, Syria's intelligence chief.
In al-Nahar Ghassan Tueni addressed Bashar al-Assad as an equal, protesting at threats against the Lebanese by General Bahjat Sleiman, Syria's intelligence chief.
June 2003
June 2003: day not established
After the war · From the books
Nada Sahnaoui's installation 'Atadhakkar' (I remember) opens in Martyrs' Square.
Sahnaoui set readers' memories of prewar downtown on 360 newspaper stacks, leaving a few stacks bare for what had been erased.
Sahnaoui set readers' memories of prewar downtown on 360 newspaper stacks, leaving a few stacks bare for what had been erased.
Sources differ: Opening in June 2003 (p. 132); the photograph is dated July 2003.
Art and memory
- artwork Nada Sahnaoui's earlier work 'Statistics' listed war casualty figures from the press; Haugbolle's note points to 111101's Artworks section.
After the war · From the books
A Kataeb memorial in Ashrafieh is pulled down for luxury flats.
A 1986 site for local fighters, it had lost its point once many of their families left in 1989-90, the mukhtar said.
A 1986 site for local fighters, it had lost its point once many of their families left in 1989-90, the mukhtar said.
September 2003
September 2003: day not established
After the war · From the books
Soldiers fire on Hezbollah members in a poster fight at Jiba.
In Jiba, Hezbollah members objected to Amal's pictures of Imam Musa Sadr; in the ensuing brawl the army fired on Hezbollah, a first in over ten years: one dead, two wounded.
In Jiba, Hezbollah members objected to Amal's pictures of Imam Musa Sadr; in the ensuing brawl the army fired on Hezbollah, a first in over ten years: one dead, two wounded.
After the war · From the books
A by-election sets off a poster war in Gemmayzeh.
In Jummayza's September 2003 by-election, posters of Aoun's Hikmat Dib, the jailed Geagea and Bashir Gemayel were torn or mocked daily: Christian memory, divided.
In Jummayza's September 2003 by-election, posters of Aoun's Hikmat Dib, the jailed Geagea and Bashir Gemayel were torn or mocked daily: Christian memory, divided.
October 2003
Monday, 27 October 2003
After the war · From the books
Hezbollah attacks Israeli positions at Shebaa; Israel raids near villages.
November 2003
November 2003: day not established
After the war · From the books
A public hearing on 'understanding the war' turns into a shouting match.
Two women broke into the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir's hearing for students and war witnesses: one abused Samir Kassir for attacking Syria; a mother blamed a former Kataeb editor for her son's killing.
Two women broke into the Association Mémoire pour l'Avenir's hearing for students and war witnesses: one abused Samir Kassir for attacking Syria; a mother blamed a former Kataeb editor for her son's killing.
December 2003
December 2003: day not established
After the war · From the books
The US Congress passes the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act.
It demanded a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and allowed for sanctions, partly applied from spring 2004.
It demanded a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and allowed for sanctions, partly applied from spring 2004.
Sources differ: Passed in November (Haugbolle) or December 2003 (Picard, 33 jours); sanctions from April (Picard) or May 2004 (33 jours).
January 2007
January 2007: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
An opposition general strike turns into Sunni-Shiite clashes.
Sunnis and Shiites clashed in Beirut's Muslim quarters during the strike, and many feared a new civil war.
Sunnis and Shiites clashed in Beirut's Muslim quarters during the strike, and many feared a new civil war.
Since 2005 · From the books
Paris III conference pledges 7.6 billion dollars to Siniora's government.
With the opposition sit-in under way in Beirut, Paris III donors pledged Siniora's government 7.6 billion dollars.
With the opposition sit-in under way in Beirut, Paris III donors pledged Siniora's government 7.6 billion dollars.
February 2007
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
Compulsory military service ends.
Quéméner notes that ending conscription, once binding on citizens of every faith, left only the sectarian allocation of officer posts.
Quéméner notes that ending conscription, once binding on citizens of every faith, left only the sectarian allocation of officer posts.
Sources differ: Quéméner dates conscription's end to 10 February 2007, Picard to January 2005; perhaps one marks the law, the other its application.
February 2007: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Bus passengers are killed in bombings at Ain Alaq.
Picard cites the bus bombing to show that ordinary people, not just public figures, were among the victims.
Picard cites the bus bombing to show that ordinary people, not just public figures, were among the victims.
April 2007
Friday, 13 April 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
The Ain al-Rummaneh bus is shown at the war's anniversary.
For the anniversary of the war's outbreak, visitors to the Beirut hippodrome could see the wreck of the Fargo Dodge bus in which 27 people died on 13 April 1975; it was exhibited again in 2011, at the Hangar in the southern suburbs.
For the anniversary of the war's outbreak, visitors to the Beirut hippodrome could see the wreck of the Fargo Dodge bus in which 27 people died on 13 April 1975; it was exhibited again in 2011, at the Hangar in the southern suburbs.
Art and memory
- film Ziad Doueiri's West Beirut (1998) popularised the Ain al-Rummaneh bus. In Philippe Aractingi's Bosta (2005) a bus touring Lebanon with music and dance quietly recalls it, recasting the symbol of the 1975 rupture as one of reconciliation.
May 2007
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Since 2005 · From the books range
Battle of Nahr al-Bared between the army and Fatah al-Islam (20 May - 2 September).
Soldiers asleep at an army post by the camp entrance were killed when Fatah al-Islam fighters overran it; the army had been trying to detain members of the group over a Tripoli bank robbery. It then besieged and bombarded the camp for over three months, and 30,000 to 40,000 Palestinian refugees fled.
Soldiers asleep at an army post by the camp entrance were killed when Fatah al-Islam fighters overran it; the army had been trying to detain members of the group over a Tripoli bank robbery. It then besieged and bombarded the camp for over three months, and 30,000 to 40,000 Palestinian refugees fled.
Sources differ: Soldiers killed: 179 (de Clerck & Malsagne) against 170 (Picard). Total dead: about 400 (Quéméner), consistent with 179 + 226 = 405.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
UN Resolution 1757 establishes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
The tribunal, charged with identifying and trying those behind the attack on Hariri, came into force under an accord the Siniora government signed in June 2007.
The tribunal, charged with identifying and trying those behind the attack on Hariri, came into force under an accord the Siniora government signed in June 2007.
June 2007
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
Future Movement MP Walid Eido is assassinated.
Walid Eido was one of a series of anti-Syrian deputies killed between 2005 and 2007.
Walid Eido was one of a series of anti-Syrian deputies killed between 2005 and 2007.
August 2007
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
A banned play about the war, How Nancy Wished That Everything Was an April Fool's Joke, opens.
Culture Minister Tarek Mitri's intervention lifted an initial ban, and Rabih Mroue and Fadi Toufiq's play opened at Masrah al-Madina. Its multimedia staging set rival war narratives side by side.
Culture Minister Tarek Mitri's intervention lifted an initial ban, and Rabih Mroue and Fadi Toufiq's play opened at Masrah al-Madina. Its multimedia staging set rival war narratives side by side.
Art and memory
- artwork Rabih Mroue and Fadi Toufiq's multimedia play pitted rival accounts of the Lebanese role in the war against each other.
September 2007
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
The army takes control of Nahr al-Bared.
The army regained the camp after more than three months of fighting.
The army regained the camp after more than three months of fighting.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
Kataeb MP Antoine Ghanem is assassinated.
A car bomb killed him and several others.
A car bomb killed him and several others.
Sources differ: 19 September (de Clerck & Malsagne) against 18 September (Quéméner).
late September 2007: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Parliament's session to elect a president is adjourned.
Parliament's sitting to choose Lahoud's successor, called about a week after Antoine Ghanem's assassination, was adjourned; deadlock lasted until May 2008.
Parliament's sitting to choose Lahoud's successor, called about a week after Antoine Ghanem's assassination, was adjourned; deadlock lasted until May 2008.
November 2007
November 2007: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Émile Lahoud's term ends with no successor: the presidency is vacant.
With the rival blocs deadlocked over who should succeed Lahoud, the presidency stayed empty until May 2008.
With the rival blocs deadlocked over who should succeed Lahoud, the presidency stayed empty until May 2008.
Sources differ: Picard starts the vacuum in September 2007, when the electoral sessions began to fail; the other books date it from November 2007, the end of Lahoud's term.
December 2007
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Since 2005 · From the books
General François al-Hajj is killed by a car bomb.
A Beirut car bomb killed General François al-Hajj, army chief of operations during the Nahr al-Bared siege and expected successor to Michel Sleiman as commander.
A Beirut car bomb killed General François al-Hajj, army chief of operations during the Nahr al-Bared siege and expected successor to Michel Sleiman as commander.
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.
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.
July 2024
Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Israel kills a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
The strike, the first escalation, killed many bystanders, children among them.
The strike, the first escalation, killed many bystanders, children among them.
September 2024
Tuesday, 3 September 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Former central bank governor Riad Salameh is arrested.
The former central bank governor, accused of a key role in the financial crisis, was arrested; the arrest divided defenders acting from communal loyalty and citizens seeking their rights.
The former central bank governor, accused of a key role in the financial crisis, was arrested; the arrest divided defenders acting from communal loyalty and citizens seeking their rights.
Tuesday, 17 September 2024
Since 2005 · From the books range
Hezbollah's pagers and walkie-talkies explode across Lebanon (17-18 September).
Pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members were detonated simultaneously by remote control, killing and wounding many, numerous civilians among them. Other Lebanese went blind too, because an international embargo on corneal grafts followed and blocked urgent transplants.
Pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members were detonated simultaneously by remote control, killing and wounding many, numerous civilians among them. Other Lebanese went blind too, because an international embargo on corneal grafts followed and blocked urgent transplants.
Sources differ: Chronology (p. 579): at least 11 dead, 4,000 wounded; introduction (p. 26): 37 dead, several thousand wounded. The lower toll may cover only the first day.
Monday, 23 September 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Israel launches operation 'Northern Arrows': 558 killed in one day.
Israel's 'Northern Arrows' began with strikes on the South, the Bekaa and Beirut's southern suburb; 558 died on 23 September, Lebanon's deadliest day in recent history.
Israel's 'Northern Arrows' began with strikes on the South, the Bekaa and Beirut's southern suburb; 558 died on 23 September, Lebanon's deadliest day in recent history.
Friday, 27 September 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Hassan Nasrallah is killed in massive Israeli strikes on the southern suburb.
Bunker-buster raids on Beirut's southern suburb killed Hassan Nasrallah and much of Hezbollah's command. De Clerck and Malsagne say Netanyahu gave the order in New York while France's Emmanuel Macron was pressing for a truce.
Bunker-buster raids on Beirut's southern suburb killed Hassan Nasrallah and much of Hezbollah's command. De Clerck and Malsagne say Netanyahu gave the order in New York while France's Emmanuel Macron was pressing for a truce.
Sources differ: The introduction (p. 27) speaks of '85,000 tonnes' of bunker busters, which is hard to credit; a smaller figure or a different unit may have been intended.
Monday, 30 September 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Israel invades South Lebanon by land.
This was the fourth Israeli ground invasion, after 1978, 1982 and 2006.
This was the fourth Israeli ground invasion, after 1978, 1982 and 2006.
September-November 2024: day not established
Since 2005 · From the books
Bombing damages Lebanon's heritage: Baalbek, Tyre, Nabatieh.
Israeli strikes razed whole villages in the South and Bekaa and damaged or destroyed heritage sites. Among those de Clerck and Malsagne describe as UNESCO-listed are Baalbek's Roman temple, Tyre's Roman remains and hippodrome, the temple of Douris, Tebnine's crusader fort and the Chamaa shrine; other landmarks hit include the Ottoman Manshiyya house in Baalbek, Nabatieh's old souk and the Palmyra Hotel.
Israeli strikes razed whole villages in the South and Bekaa and damaged or destroyed heritage sites. Among those de Clerck and Malsagne describe as UNESCO-listed are Baalbek's Roman temple, Tyre's Roman remains and hippodrome, the temple of Douris, Tebnine's crusader fort and the Chamaa shrine; other landmarks hit include the Ottoman Manshiyya house in Baalbek, Nabatieh's old souk and the Palmyra Hotel.
Art and memory
- place De Clerck and Malsagne list sites of Lebanon's long past damaged or destroyed in 2024, among them Baalbek's Roman temple and Palmyra Hotel, Tyre's hippodrome, Tebnine fort and Nabatieh's old souk.
October 2024
Tuesday, 1 October 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Iran fires some 200 missiles at Israel after Nasrallah's killing.
Iran's strike answered the killings of Hassan Nasrallah and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the latter in Tehran on 31 July. Israel bombed Iran on 26 October, leaving Lebanon caught between the two.
Iran's strike answered the killings of Hassan Nasrallah and of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the latter in Tehran on 31 July. Israel bombed Iran on 26 October, leaving Lebanon caught between the two.
Thursday, 3 October 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Hashem Safieddine, expected to succeed Nasrallah, is killed.
Hashem Safieddine had been expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah at the head of Hezbollah.
Hashem Safieddine had been expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah at the head of Hezbollah.
Tuesday, 8 October 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Netanyahu calls on the Lebanese to rise against Hezbollah.
He warned that Lebanon would suffer Gaza's fate if they did nothing.
He warned that Lebanon would suffer Gaza's fate if they did nothing.
Thursday, 24 October 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Paris conference pledges aid to Lebanon.
The World Bank put the damage at $8.5 billion in November; the donors had pledged $800 million of humanitarian aid and $200 million for the army.
The World Bank put the damage at $8.5 billion in November; the donors had pledged $800 million of humanitarian aid and $200 million for the army.
November 2024
Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
Ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel; the displaced return at once.
Under the ceasefire Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani and the Lebanese army to deploy south of it, while Israel had sixty days to leave the South. It took effect two months to the day after Nasrallah's killing. Nearly a million displaced went home at once, though Israel breached the truce from day one. De Clerck and Malsagne count about 3,400 dead in the 66-day war, about 4,000 counting from 8 October 2023.
Under the ceasefire Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani and the Lebanese army to deploy south of it, while Israel had sixty days to leave the South. It took effect two months to the day after Nasrallah's killing. Nearly a million displaced went home at once, though Israel breached the truce from day one. De Clerck and Malsagne count about 3,400 dead in the 66-day war, about 4,000 counting from 8 October 2023.
December 2024
Sunday, 8 December 2024
Since 2005 · From the books
The Assad regime falls in Syria.
Israel at once took Mount Hermon's Syrian slopes and the remainder of the Syrian Golan. In Lebanon, joy at the regime's fall mingled with war hatreds revived by the freeing of prisoners from Syrian jails, and families hoping to find missing relatives alive were disappointed. Some Syrians went home; others fled into Lebanon fearing Islamist reprisals.
Israel at once took Mount Hermon's Syrian slopes and the remainder of the Syrian Golan. In Lebanon, joy at the regime's fall mingled with war hatreds revived by the freeing of prisoners from Syrian jails, and families hoping to find missing relatives alive were disappointed. Some Syrians went home; others fled into Lebanon fearing Islamist reprisals.