111101 - Facts - Chronology - Lebanese war

Lebanese war chronology - 1979

January 5, 1979 friday		Lebanon entered a complacency phase. All sides seemed decided to wait for important regional developments to unfold in order to re-evaluate the situation and define the course of action. The situation was very tense in the South where the Israelis were shelling the Hasbaya region.
January 6, 1979 satruday		President Elias Sarkis re-affirmed the rejection of the implantation. The chief of State requested the reinforcement for the UNIFL
January 8, 1979 monday		The bad weather provoked considerable damages. Following strong showers during the weekend in the North, landslides made several routes impracticable whereas, for the first time in twenty years, a flood was reported in Nahr El Kebir, which constitutes the Northern frontier between Lebanon and Syria. The El Arida metallic bridge collapsed.
January 12, 1979 friday		Members of the Commission of Justice requested the adoption of a law prohibiting the sale of lands to non-Lebanese. In the south, it seemed that many lands have been sold to non-Lebanese.
January 16, 1979 tuesday		The disappearance of the Imam Sadr was back on the news. Seven young Lebanese Shiite militiamen hijacked the MEA Boeing 720, in order to attract the world's attention on the sequestration of the Imam. The militants affirmed that General Kadhafi, who was vigorously opposed to the Palestinian settlement in Lebanon, detained Imam Moussa Sadr. The hijackers surrendered to the Lebanese justice at night.
January 19, 1979 friday		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 monday		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 tuesday		Considering the inflation and the depreciation of the Lebanese pound, new 250 LP bills were put in circulation starting February 1.
February 5, 1979 monday		New identity cards bearing no mention of religion, were also due to be released soon.
February 6, 1979 tuesday		One dead and 10 injured were reported on the 'Ring of death' under sniper shots.
February 12, 1979 monday		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 wednesday		Saudi troops decided to withdraw from the Arabic Strike Force. The Lebanese tried to dissuade them.
March 17, 1979 satruday		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 tuesday		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 wednesday		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 friday		Finally, 600 Lebanese soldiers replaced the Saudis in East Beirut in an atmosphere of popular emotion.
March 24, 1979 satruday		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 sunday		50,000 demonstrators organized a walk between Bourj-Brajneh and Ghobeiri to support the Islamic Republic in Iran.
April 2, 1979 monday		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 friday		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 sunday		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 tuesday		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 wednesday		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 satruday		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 sunday		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 thursday		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 tuesday		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 thursday		2,000 persons cheered Fayrouz who was performing at the Olympia.
May 6, 1979 sunday		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 tuesday		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 wednesday		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 friday		In Bablieh, seven children were killed by a bomb they were manipulating.
May 13, 1979 sunday		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 tuesday		The Phalange Party and the LNP merged under the sign of cooperation with the State.
May 16, 1979 wednesday		The Hoss cabinet resigned.
May 28, 1979 monday		100,000 civilians flew towards Saida, Zahrani, the Chouf and Beirut due to the Israeli bombardments.
May 31, 1979 thursday		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 satruday		50 polio cases were reported in Lebanon.
June 4, 1979 monday		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 monday		4 Shiite bodies from Afqa were discovered on the beach in Zalka.
June 14, 1979 thursday		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 satruday		After murderous combats, the Lebanese authorities decided to send the army to Ain el Remmane at the beginning of the week.
June 21, 1979 thursday		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 thursday		Elias IV, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and the Orient died.
June 27, 1979 wednesday		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.
June 28, 1979 thursday		The Arab Strike Force mandate was renewed for 6 months.
June 30, 1979 satruday		The 'race for peace' organized by the Lebanese Federation of Athletics under the patronage of L'orient-Le Jour was a manifestation of the Lebanese sportsmen in favor of national unity. Departed from Achrafieh, the 66 participants representing 18 clubs from all the Lebanese regions met in Manara after having crossed the Fouad Chehab Ring.
July 2, 1979 monday		President Elias Sarkis asked Selim El Hoss to form the government.
July 10, 1979 tuesday		An artillery duel opposed the Arab Strike Force to the Lebanese Forces in Hadeth.
July 12, 1979 thursday		Unrest spread in West Beirut where Shiite militiamen manifested their anger against the eventual visit to Beirut of Colonel Kadhafi. The Lebanese government cancelled, under pressure from both officials and Shiite masses, the visit of the Libyan president.
July 16, 1979 monday		Two months after the resignation of the Hoss Cabinet formed at the end of the 75-76 war, Selim El Hoss announced the formation of his second Cabinet. The ministerial team included: Selim El Hoss: Prime Minister - Fouad Boutros: Vice-president of the Council and Minister of Foreign affairs - Charles Helou: Minister of State - Bahige Takieddine: Minister of Interior and Tourism - Joseph Skaff: Minister of Defense and Agriculture - Anouar Sabbah: Minister of Resources and Industry - Ali El Khalil: Minister of Finance - Nazem Kadri: Minister of Social Affairs - Boutros Harb: Minister of Education and Public Works - Talal Merhabi: Minister of Health and Economy - Youssef Germanos: Minister of Justice and Information
July 21, 1979 satruday		At Mont La Salle, many fans applauded Joe Dassin, the baladin-poete.
July 22, 1979 sunday		The Israeli aviation bombarded Damour, Naameh, Sarafand and Adloun, making heavy casualties: 18 dead and 70 wounded including women and children.
July 23, 1979 monday		A Lebanese cargo airplane from the freight company 'Trans Mediterranean Airway' crashed on one of the Beirut Airport runways. The six occupants of the four engine aircraft died.
August 9, 1979 thursday		The Cabinet won the Parliament's confidence by the majority of 54 votes against nine.
August 13, 1979 monday		The Iraqi ambassador was wounded during an attack in Jnah.
August 14, 1979 tuesday		Tension reached its peak everywhere in Lebanon. Heavy fights opposed the Lebanese Forces to the Lebanese army at the Beirut River's Corniche and in Oyoune el Simane.
August 16, 1979 thursday		The Lebanese weightlifter Mohammed Traboulsi won several gold medals during the 11th Asian championship of weightlifting that was taking place in Tokyo.
August 17, 1979 friday		While the truce was being confirmed at the port and downtown, the situation escalated in the South where the Israeli artillery and Saad Haddad's artillery bombarded several localities. In the North, the Marada attacked a Phalange checkpoint in Barbara located between Jbeil and Batroun. The operation resulted in 3 dead and 5 injured among the Phalangist militiamen.
August 20, 1979 monday		A car bomb exploded prematurely in Achrafieh killing the two occupants of the vehicle. A disaster had just been avoided.
August 21, 1979 tuesday		A deluge of fire fell on Tyr and Nabatyeh and hit a religious monastery causing 4 deaths and 28 injuries. The shelling was extended to the borders of Saida and Jezzine.
August 31, 1979 friday		On the occasion of the first anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr, a general strike paralyzed Beirut. For the first time Sheikh Mohammed Mehdi chamseddine accused the Libyans of his disappearance.
September 7, 1979 friday		Three commandos hijacked an Alitalia airplane. Their objective was to denounce Kadhafi in front of the international opinion. 141 passengers out of 175 were released at the airport of Rome. The air pirates surrendered to the Iranians the next day.
September 8, 1979 satruday		Dalida fascinated her fans at the Piccadilly. September 11 A confrontation between the Phalangists and the Tachnag (Armenian militia) caused 24 dead, 30 wounded and 40 hostages in Nabaa and Bourj Hammoud.
September 12, 1979 wednesday		The notables of Zghorta and Becharreh reconciled under the aegis of Patriarch Khoreiche. In a common declaration, the notables requested the deployment of the army in their region.
September 15, 1979 satruday		Several hundreds of women gathered at the Arts and Crafts garden and head towards the office of the Prime Minister. Most of them were originally from the South and they were claiming peace.
September 17, 1979 monday		A delegation of black American officials arrived in Beirut to meet with Lebanese and Palestinian officials.
September 20, 1979 thursday		Numerous typhoid cases were reported in Lebanon but there hasn't been any epidemic outbreak in the country.
September 22, 1979 satruday		President Elias Sarkis delivered an important speech, in which he emphasized the overriding role the army should play. Without it 'the State will be a body with no soul', he said. He insisted that the Arabs should stop to shilly-shally about Southern Lebanon.
September 26, 1979 wednesday		Shiite leaders headed by Sheikh Mohammed Mehdi Chamseddine requested the deployment of the army in Southern Lebanon.
October 2, 1979 tuesday		Linking the crisis with the settlement of the Palestinian problem, the Pope declared that Lebanon should remain a model of coexistence.
October 4, 1979 thursday		A light earthquake shook the region of Saida without any victim.
October 4, 1979 thursday		The Minister of Foreign affairs, Fouad Boutros, called upon the United Nations to end Israeli aggressions in the South, to freeze the activities of the Fedayin, to reinforce the UNIFL, and to dissociate the Lebanese problem from the regional crisis.
October 7, 1979 sunday		Samir Bannout was sacred world champion of plastic beauty at the Colombo Championship in the United States.
October 8, 1979 monday		Phalangist armed elements set up a surprise checkpoint in Ainata, the road leading to the Cedars, and took 70 hostages from Zghorta. The Marada retaliated by taking 230 hostages that were released on October 12, following a call launched by Pope John Paul II.
October 17, 1979 wednesday		A wooden Christ that has been in the Ain Trez Greek Catholic convent since the last century could be the work of Michel-Angelo. The authenticity of this work had been guaranteed with 90% confidence by a first appraisal in Rome last September.
October 23, 1979 tuesday		Phalangist elements and the LNP fought in Beit Mery.
October 25, 1979 thursday		The Lebanese government who had just launched a wide offensive against barratry and smuggling, adopted serious measures to insure the supervision of the coasts and to prevent pirate cargos from accosting in the clandestine ports.
October 27, 1979 satruday		A car bomb exploded in basta, next to the office of the Army of Arabic Lebanon provoking 8 deaths and 32 injuries. The attack was followed by a strike in West Beirut.
October 28, 1979 sunday		Israel stiffened its position. While Hoss discussed with Abou Ayad a Lebanese Palestinian understanding platform, Israel laid two conditions for peace: the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon and the end of Palestinian raids, according to what Menahem Begin affirmed to the American delegate, Philip Habib in Jerusalem.
November 1, 1979 thursday		Combats between the Amal movement and soldiers from the Arab Strike Force caused 5 dead and 17 wounded.
November 1, 1979 thursday		The Marada imposed a fuel blockade against the eastern regions in order to obtain the release of the hostages.
November 12, 1979 monday		The work document that Lebanon was going to present in Tunis, contained 6 main points: exercising pressure on the United States to end Israeli aggressions, freezing the actions of the Fedayin, laying the Lebanese authority in the South, banning any illegal armed presence, re-activating the Beiteddine Committee, and grouping guerillas in some specified zones.
November 16, 1979 friday		The dollar registered its highest level in Beirut, reaching 347 Lebanese Pounds, something that never happened before.
November 22, 1979 thursday		For the first time since 1974, the Lebanese celebrated Independence Day with showiness.
November 23, 1979 friday		The Tunis summit was disappointing. Lebanon received only a solemn proclamation of support doubled by a financial assistance up to 2 billion dollars, but the Southern Lebanon problem remained unsolved, the summit having just called the State and the resistance to get along.
December 1, 1979 satruday		A total shortage of fuel paralyzed the capital, as well as the mountain and the South; the reasons for this shortage remained unknown.
December 7, 1979 friday		For the first time in Lebanon, a particularly delicate surgical intervention was successfully undertaken. Professor Wafic Sinno performed an implantation of an artificial crystalline at the Hotel-Dieu hospital.
December 19, 1979 wednesday		An ongoing manifestation in Tripoli went out of control. The demonstrators protesting against the increase of the cost of living, vandalized Tripoli's seraglio and molested the Mohafez of Northern Lebanon. The administrations and public services clerks in Tripoli decided to stop working for 3 days.
December 26, 1979 wednesday		Efforts intensified to free the Zghortiote hostages. Sleiman Frangieh set the deadline to December 31.

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