Lebanese war chronology

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January 19, 1979		The Israeli army launched a triple air, ground and sea operation against Arnoun, Aichieh and the costal region. These events caused 16 dead, 12 injured and 25 prisoners. Concurrently, the Security Council renewed the UNIFL mandate until Beirut elaborated a program re-establishing its authority in Southern Lebanon.
January 22, 1979		One of the closest collaborators of Yasser Arafat, Ali Hassan Salameh, nicknamed of Abou Hassan, died in an explosion. The attack that took place in the Snoubra sector caused 11 dead and 17 injured.
January 23, 1979		Considering the inflation and the depreciation of the Lebanese pound, new 250 LP bills were put in circulation starting February 1.
February 5, 1979		New identity cards bearing no mention of religion, were also due to be released soon.
February 6, 1979		One dead and 10 injured were reported on the 'Ring of death' under sniper shots.
February 12, 1979		Brian Urqhart, the assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, examined with Lebanese officials the modalities of the Army's deployment in the South next to the UNIFL Israel nevertheless rejected the program.
February 28, 1979		Saudi troops decided to withdraw from the Arabic Strike Force. The Lebanese tried to dissuade them.
March 17, 1979		Saudi soldiers packed and got ready to leave Lebanon without warning. The next day, after it had been decided that 1200 Lebanese soldiers would replace them, the Saudis changed their minds.
March 20, 1979		A car bomb containing explosives operated by remote control, parked next to the military council of the Phalange Party was found. This attack aimed at the chief of the Lebanese Forces, Bechir Gemayel.
March 21, 1979		Thousands of women demonstrated in the southern suburbs. A feminine walk was taking place in Furn el Chebbak and Ain el Remmaneh to celebrate mother's day and the international year of the child. Demonstrators brandished banners claiming, among other things, security in the Southern suburbs, an army presence, the return of displaced persons, the indemnification of bombardment victims, and reconstruction loans.
March 23, 1979		Finally, 600 Lebanese soldiers replaced the Saudis in East Beirut in an atmosphere of popular emotion.
March 24, 1979		While Hoss was claiming the revision of the taking over operation, arguing that there are not enough soldiers nor material, combats were raging in the Batroun region between the Phalange Party and the Marada, followers of President Frangieh.
April 1, 1979		50,000 demonstrators organized a walk between Bourj-Brajneh and Ghobeiri to support the Islamic Republic in Iran.
April 2, 1979		A rocket attack was launched against the American embassy in Beirut. Three missiles were shot from a car. Small damages were reported.
April 6, 1979		A general strike to protest against the insufficient salary increase paralyzed the country. The syndicates granted a delay of 3 months to the government.
April 8, 1979		The United Arab Emirates called back their "Green Helmets". Syria was the only country running for the next Arabic Strike Force mandate.
April 10, 1979		Israel launched a double air strike against military targets in Tyr and Damour. 3 people dead and 15 injured were reported. President Hoss began an Arab tour trying to obtain the renewal of the mandate of the Arabic Strike Force.
April 18, 1979		An army battalion deployed in the UNIFL zone in the South, despite bombardments by Saad Haddad’s militias against the Lebanese soldiers. The latter have come all the way from Yarze. The same day, the rebel officer Saad Haddad proclaimed the State of Free Lebanon. He was dismissed from the Lebanese army the following day.
April 21, 1979		The United States reaffirmed through their ambassador in Lebanon, their support to President Elias Sarkis and considered Saad Haddad and his men as rebels.
April 22, 1979		In a new episode of the vendetta opposing the Zghoriotes to the Phalangists, a massacre was perpetrated in Shmout, in the caza of Jbeil, where the Marada shot 11 Phalangist militiamen.
April 26, 1979		While Israel was bombing several localities in the South, the Security Council restated its support to the unity and integrity of Lebanon.
May 1, 1979		A big scientific study was concluded with 888 Lebanese who are 16 to 22 years old. The results were as follows: 73% of the Lebanese youth were interested in politics 91% read everyday one or two political newspapers 56% sympathized with parties 34% adhered to parties 32% had fought One girl out of eight carried arms 74% of the youth conceived their future in Lebanon only 40% were optimistic 37% saw their death directly tied to war
May 3, 1979		2,000 persons cheered Fayrouz who was performing at the Olympia.
May 6, 1979		The Israeli aviation, aiming at a Palestinian target, killed five innocents and injured 15 others in a wedding ceremony in the Akkar. All the victims were Lebanese with, among them, several kids.
May 8, 1979		Power cuts became more and more frequent in the country. The Director of the Electricité du Liban recommended to the population to save power.
May 9, 1979		President Elias Sarkis urged the United Nations and the Arabs to assume their responsibilities. The chief of the State violently condemned the repeated Israeli aggressions against Lebanon qualifying them of flagrant challenge to human principles.
May 11, 1979		In Bablieh, seven children were killed by a bomb they were manipulating.
May 13, 1979		Amine Gemayel, deputy of the Northern Metn and member of the Phalange Party's political bureau, escaped from an assassination attempt that nearly cost him his two children's life. A plastic explosive (20 kg of TNT) tied to a 122 mm bomb placed in a trunk of a tree, exploded at the time Amine Gemayel's car went by. He was injured in the face. This incident caused a general strike in the Eastern regions.
May 15, 1979		The Phalange Party and the LNP merged under the sign of cooperation with the State.
May 16, 1979		The Hoss cabinet resigned.
May 28, 1979		100,000 civilians flew towards Saida, Zahrani, the Chouf and Beirut due to the Israeli bombardments.
May 31, 1979		At the meeting of the Security Council, Lebanon claimed the reinforcement of the UNIFL. Moreover, Beirut requested the condemnation of Israel and the re-activation of the Armistice Commission.
June 2, 1979		50 polio cases were reported in Lebanon.
June 4, 1979		Pierre Gemayel, Chief of the Phalange Party, escaped a killing attack in Nahr el Kalb. The explosion slightly injured his head and killed one person and wounded about 10.
June 11, 1979		4 Shiite bodies from Afqa were discovered on the beach in Zalka.
June 14, 1979		After having renewed the UNIFL mandate for six months, the United Nations proclaimed the validity of the Armistice Commission. The Security Council deplored Israeli aggressions and asked all parties to cooperate with the blue helmets.
June 16, 1979		After murderous combats, the Lebanese authorities decided to send the army to Ain el Remmane at the beginning of the week.
June 21, 1979		Violent combats with heavy armaments opposed the Lebanese army and the Arab Strike Force at the jurd of Akoura killing 7 Lebanese and injuring 19 persons, 13 of which were militiamen.
June 21, 1979		Elias IV, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the Orient died.
June 27, 1979		Syrians and Israelis faced each other in the sky of Damour. Four Syrian Migs were shut down. At the Southern border, shelling continued between Progressive Palestinians on one side and the militia of Saad Haddad and Israel on the other.