Lebanese war chronology - 1980

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January 2, 1980		The chief of the 'Iranian volunteers', Hodjatolislam Mohammed Montazeri, held a press conference in Beirut during which he reasserted his men's determination to go to South Lebanon to 'fight imperialism and Zionism.' And he added: 'We will come by thousands.'
January 18, 1980		A Shiite hijacked an MEA Boeing 707. This airplane flying from Beirut to Larnaca had 72 passengers and 10 crewmembers onboard. The hijacker surrendered to the Lebanese authorities and claimed, in a press conference, the intensification of the efforts in order to find Imam Moussa Sadr. He also requested the positioning of the Lebanese army in South of Lebanon.
January 21, 1980		The Lebanese army projected to deploy in South Lebanon while Israel was strongly opposed to this project.
January 22, 1980		The Arab Strike Force withdrew from the road going South. This initiative surprised the authorities.
January 25, 1980		Fights opposed the Phalange Party and the NLP in Ehmej and Annaya. The road leading to Jbeil was closed. An acute crisis erupted between the two parties.
January 30, 1980		The situation worsened in Ehmej. Some sources reported 4 dead and 10 injured persons.
February 3, 1980		Arab Strike Force units stationed in Beirut projected to withdraw towards Aley in the next few days. The decision surprised the government and the chief of State presided a meeting to study how to fill the gap.
February 5, 1980		Mgr Elias Audeh was elected the Greek Orthodox Metropolite of Beirut.
February 7, 1980		The most beautiful blue eyes in the world visited Lebanon. Alain Delon arrived at the Beirut International Airport and charmed the Lebanese.
February 7, 1980		Confrontations occurred between the Phalangists and the Zghortiotes in Knat, killing ten persons. Many fights opposing the two parties followed. Shells hit several villages in the cazas of Batroun, Koura, and Jbeil and over 10,000 civilians flew the combats. Finally, the Arab Strike Force entered Knat, and order was reestablished in the region on February 18.
February 9, 1980		Bahige Takieddine, Minister of Interior and Tourism, and deputy of the Chouf, died from a heart attack. The Presidency of the Republic ordered national funerals and three days of mourning. Bahige Takieddine was born in 1909 in Baakline in the Chouf. He studied at the French Lycée then went to the Law School at Saint Joseph University. He was minister several times since 1974.
February 13, 1980		The Phalangist deputy from Jezzine, Edmond Risk was kidnapped, causing a rising tension in the region.
February 23, 1980		Criminal madness was unleashed in Lebanon. An odious assault was reported in the Sursock district. A car bomb killed 8 persons including Maya, Bechir Gemayel's 20 months old daughter, and injured 20 others. This explosion was aimed at the chief commander of the Lebanese Forces.
February 24, 1980		Selim Laouzi, owner of the Hawadess, a local newspaper, was kidnapped on the Beirut International Airport road. The kidnapping of this eminent figure of the Lebanese press provoked strong emotions in the political environment and the Editors Syndicate decided to call for a strike.
March 4, 1980		The mutilated body of Selim Laouzi was found in the forests of Aramoun ten days after his kidnapping.
March 5, 1980		In a message addressed to the Nation, the President of the Republic proclaimed the State's Arab and internal options. He rejected the Camp David agreements, and underlined the coordination between Lebanon and Syria wile respecting the sovereignty of both countries. Furthermore, he refused the idea of creating mini-states and reassured his attachment to freedom.
March 5, 1980		Seven Zghortiotes were released in exchange of eleven Phalangists. The exchange of hostages took place after 5 months of detention.
March 6, 1980		Units from the Arab Strike Force positioned in the Sin el Fil- Dekouaneh-Mekalles region started to gather in order to withdraw towards Jamhour-Aley. The total withdrawal should be executed by Saturday night and the Lebanese army would replace the Syrian soldiers.
March 9, 1980		Edmond Rizk who had been kept hostage in Zghorta since February 13, was released.
March 12, 1980		A car bomb exploded on the Dora-Nahr el Mott boulevard, a few seconds after the passage of Camille Chamouns' convoy.
March 12, 1980		12 persons were killed due to the use of spoiled flower in the Akkar.
March 13, 1980		Fights opposed Amal to the Fateh, killing seven persons in the Ouzaï-Aramoun region. Leaders of the National Movement started to mediate between the two parties to end the dispute.
March 18, 1980		The population protested in vain against the use of the Normandy bay in Beirut as a garbage dumping site.
March 22, 1980		Tanker owners suspended the delivery of fuel causing a gas shortage in Beirut. Strikers claimed the return of vehicles that had disappeared in Saida.
April 9, 1980		The Council of Ministers raised the wages in the private sector by 29%. The ceiling of the raise was fixed at 625 Lebanese Pound, while the floor of the raise was fixed at 150 Lebanese pounds. The minimum salary increased therefore from 525 to 675 Lebanese Pounds.
April 10, 1980		Israelis settled in the UNIFL zone, but withdrew progressively in the following days. Beirut called upon the Security Council to convene urgently.
April 12, 1980		Saad Haddad militiamen attacked UNIFL soldiers. Bombings destroyed two United Nations helicopters in Nakoura.
April 15, 1980		An important Shiite demonstration was organized in Ghobeire to protest against the disappearance of Imam Mohammed Baker el Sadr, arrested in Iraq. Armed elements fired on the cortege, killing one person and injuring 6 others.
April 16, 1980		The conflict between Amal and the Iraqi Baas worsened. Violent fights raged in the Southern suburbs of Beirut claiming 40 victims. The Iraqi and the Iranian embassies were attacked. The Amal organization, founded by Imam Moussa Sadr who disappeared in 1978, accused the Iraqi agents of ignoring the cease-fire.
April 17, 1980		The relation between the Phalange Party and Syria softened after Syrian authorities released 16 Phalangist militants.
April 18, 1980		The South was still bleeding. 18 persons were killed in an Israeli raid against Sarafand and Adloun.
April 18, 1980		A car bomb exploded at Kabb Elias killing 9 persons and wounding 30 others.
April 22, 1980		A car parked 50 meters away from the regional office of the Phalange Party in Jdeideh exploded injuring 5 persons.
April 24, 1980		The Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the Israeli military intervention in Lebanon and the de facto alliance between Israel and Saad Haddad's militia. Washington suggested the creation of a special commission in charge of finding a final settlement in South Lebanon.
May 2, 1980		A high-ranking Shiite religious dignitary, Imam Hajje Hassan Chirazi was assassinated in Beirut, on the Ramlet el Bayda Corniche, onboard of a taxi.
May 8, 1980		A seaside resort called 'Bella Mar' collapsed while still under construction. Eight persons lost their lives in the accident.
May 15, 1980		Following artillery duels between the Lebanese Forces and the Syrian National Social Party in the Upper-Metn, an army buffer force deployed in the region.
May 19, 1980		Snipers reappeared killing two persons on the Ring.
May 20, 1980		In a verbal message transmitted through the US ambassador John Gunther Dean, President Elias Sarkis urged the US President Carter to stop Lebanon's agony.
May 23, 1980		Shells fell on the center of Saida killing 4 persons and wounding 14 others.