Lebanese war chronology

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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.
May 23, 1980		The Northern Lebanese front flared up again. Militiamen from the Marada launched an attack against the Phalangist positions. In the jurd of the Batroun region, five persons were killed and 20 others wounded.
May 27, 1980		Violent confrontations burst between Shiite militiamen from Amal and a coalition including the Communist Party and the Resistance. The confrontations lasted three days, claiming a big number of victims. The Arab Strike Force mediated between the belligerent parties. A normalization and demilitarization agreement was signed in Damascus with the participation of the PLO.
May 28, 1980		200 persons were poisoned in Tyr after drinking polluted water.
May 31, 1980		The Lebanese championship of athletics was held for the first time since 1975.
June 3, 1980		Violent combats were reported in Saida. Soldiers from the Lebanese Army clashed with armed elements from the Resistance, acting under the name of officer Ahmed Khatib's Army of Arab Lebanon. The confrontation started by an ambush in Remeile against a military convoy. The town of Saida observed a strike in protest against these incidents.
June 6, 1980		Selim el Hoss resigned from office. President Sarkis accepted his resignation on June 16.
June 13, 1980		The European Community called upon all parties in her meeting in Venice, inviting them to end all actions that might harm Lebanon's independence and sovereignty.
June 15, 1980		Violent confrontations between the Army of Arab Lebanon and Amal were reported in the Bekaa region. The Arab Strike Force evacuated Ahmed Khatib, who was isolated in Nabi Chit.
June 17, 1980		While the UNIFL mandate was extended for another 6 months, a car bomb exploded in Raouche killing one person and wounding 35 others.
June 19, 1980		The first official exams since the beginning of the war were held as usual. We are far from the excessive cheating reported last year. However, the Minister of National Education had to cancel the Baccalaureate exams in South Lebanon because of the chaotic atmosphere that was prevailing.
June 30, 1980		The Israelis attacked a base belonging to the Arab Liberation Front in Kasmieh. This operation killed 11 persons and injured 29 others.
July 1, 1980		Julio, who sold 75,000,000 discs around the world, performed in Lebanon.
July 4, 1980		Artillery duels and armed confrontations continued between the Phalange Party and the NLP in the regions of Wadi-Chahrour, Betchay, Bsous,Kfarchima, and their surroundings. 16 persons were killed and 20 others wounded. The next day, the Lebanese army took in charge the areas of Wadi-Chahrour, Betchay, Bsous, Kfarchima, Bsaba, and Bleibel in the Southern-Metn, ending the conflict between the Phalange Party and the NLP in the region.
July 6, 1980		Violent confrontations opposed in Ain Mreisse the Mourabitoun and the Arab Socialist Union. 3 persons died and 16 others were wounded.
July 8, 1980		Phalangist militiamen launched an assault against all the NLP's offices and barracks in Achrafieh, on the coast, in Jbeil, in the Kesrouan, and in the Metn. The most murderous combats took place in Acharfieh, Amchit, and especially Safra where the domicile of the NLP defense secretary, Dany Chamoun, was burned. Chamoun's daughter was injured. He flew to Fakra and announced his resignation. The Phalangists continued their attack and reached Fakra where they dynamited Chamoun's home. He flew again to Baskinta. He went back later to Yarze on board of an army helicopter, along with Amine Gemayel. The Phalange Party controlled therefore all NLP's offices and barracks.
July 9, 1980		The employees of the civil aviation launched an open strike at the Beirut International Airport.
July 11, 1980		In order to reach an agreement with the Phalange Party, Camille Chamoun requested the restitution of the NLP's posts and armaments as well as the return to the Status Quo. Dany Chamoun visited President Sleiman Frangieh.
July 12, 1980		Civil airplanes were diverted to Rayak because of the strike that hit the Beirut International Airport. But traffic at the airport resumed on the following day.
July 13, 1980		A bomb exploded in a movie theater at Mazraa killing 5 persons and injuring 18.
July 20, 1980		Takieddine Solh was asked, by the President of the Republic, to form a new Government of National Union.
July 21, 1980		Charles Rizk, President of Télé-Liban's Board of Directors, was kidnapped from his home. He was released a few hours later. He presented immediately his resignation to the President of the Republic. The employees at Télé-Liban responded by launching an open strike.
July 23, 1980		Riad Taha, a 53 years old well known journalist, and President of the Press Syndicate for 13 years, was cowardly shot at Chourane by professional killers who opened fire on his car; 7 bullets hit him. The Press Syndicate claimed damages for a criminal act.
July 26, 1980		Violent combats burst in the Bekaa region between Amal and LFA killing 11 persons and injuring 15 others.
July 30, 1980		The nightmare continued. A car bomb exploded in a busy street of Achrafieh killing three persons and wounding 15 others.
August 5, 1980		A Shiite Ulema, Sheikh Ali Badreddine, was found dead in the region of Zahrani.
August 7, 1980		Car bombs continued in Lebanon in a cortege of horror. A car bomb exploded in Achrafieh, Sassine square, killing one person and injuring 30 others. The population developed a real phobia and was haunted by these cars that spread death.
August 9, 1980		President Takieddine Solh announced that he will suspend his efforts to form a new Cabinet. 'It is still not possible to put together a government of active forces,' he said.
August 13, 1980		President Sarkis rejected, in front of Gaston Thor, the President of the Council of Ministers of the EEC, the settlement of the Palestinians in Lebanon as part of the global settlement of the Middle East problem.
August 19, 1980		An Israeli raid targeted the region of Arnoun. Violent confrontations opposed Palestinian Progressive 'common forces' and 60 Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters. The 'common forces' reported 25 dead and 30 injured, while Israelis reported 20 victims. The next day, a double Israeli raid targeted Nabatyeh.
August 23, 1980		Heavy armament combats were signaled in Tripoli between local militias, causing 16 deaths and 40 injuries.
August 24, 1980		5 persons were killed and 35 others wounded by a car bomb explosion in front of a coffee shop in Reyfoun.
August 24, 1980		An air combat took place over South Lebanon between Syrian Migs and Israeli airplanes. A Syrian plane crashed next to Jbaa.
August 26, 1980		Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, the nephew of the Mufti Jaafari, was killed next to the Unesco.
August 27, 1980		The US ambassador, John Gunther Dean, escaped from a killing attempt in Hazmieh. Killers shot his armored car.
September 26, 1980		An assault was launched against the US embassy in West Beirut. Two missiles were fired on the chancellery hitting the second and fourth floors. The aggressors remained unidentified.