Lebanese Civil War

The Lebanese Civil War (Arabic: الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a long and difficult conflict that happened in Lebanon from 1975 to 1990. During this time, many people were hurt or lost their lives, and many had to leave their homes.

Lebanon is a country where many different groups of people lived together, such as Lebanese Christians, Lebanese Sunni Muslims, Lebanese Shia Muslims, and Druze. The way the government worked was tied closely to these groups, which sometimes caused problems. As the country changed, with many new people arriving, especially Palestinians after events in 1948 and 1967, tensions grew.

Fighting began between different groups, and countries like Syria, Israel, and Iran got involved, making the situation even more complicated. Even groups within the same religion sometimes fought each other.

Finally, in 1989, an agreement called the Taif Agreement helped to stop the fighting. By 1991, the armed groups were disbanded, and the country began to heal, though some tensions remained.

Background

Ottoman and European rule

In 1860, a fight broke out between two groups, the Druze and the Maronites, in an area called Mount Lebanon. This fight caused many people to lose their lives.

During World War I, life was tough for Lebanon because many people were at war with Britain and France.

After World War I ended, France took control of Lebanon. They set up a new country called Greater Lebanon, which was meant to be a safe place for Maronite Christians, but many Muslims also lived there.

In 1926, Lebanon became a republic with its own constitution. However, the constitution stopped working in 1932. Different groups wanted either to join with Syria or to become independent from France. In 1936, a political group called the Maronite Phalange was started by Pierre Gemayel.

Lebanese independence

World War II and the years that followed brought big changes to Lebanon and the Middle East. Lebanon gained its independence on November 22, 1943. French soldiers left Lebanon in 1946. The Maronite Christians took charge of the country. Both Muslims and Christians had seats in the parliament. The president had to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shia Muslim.

In 1947, a plan to divide Palestine led to fighting there. This fighting turned into a bigger war between Israel and nearby Arab countries. Many people who had to leave Palestine moved into Lebanon.

In July 1958, Lebanon faced the threat of another fight between Maronite Christians and Muslims. President Camille Chamoun tried to change how politics worked in Lebanon, which caused anger from some powerful families. These families started a fight called the War of the Pashas against Chamoun.

Demographic tensions

Further information: Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon

Palestinian insurgency in Lebanon

In the 1960s, Lebanon was mostly quiet, but things soon changed. Groups of Palestinians who had to leave their homes lived in camps in Lebanon. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, these groups moved into Lebanon after being forced out of Jordan. They set up their own strong areas, which made the Lebanese government unhappy.

This situation made it hard for everyone to get along. Some Lebanese Muslims wanted more power, and some groups wanted to change the government to be more fair for everyone. However, as time went on, some of these groups started to focus more on fighting the current government instead of working together.

These events helped Palestinian groups take control of parts of Lebanon's cities and countryside. They brought in fighters from other countries and worked with some Lebanese groups. In February 1975, a protest by fishermen in a city called Sidon turned into a bigger problem. A man named Maarouf Saad, who was important in the city, was shot and killed. This event helped start more fighting in Lebanon.

Political divide and sectarianism

During the Lebanese Civil War, different groups formed militias. These groups started without strong religious ties but often ended up supporting people from their own communities. The two biggest groups were the Lebanese Front, made up of Maronite Christians who opposed Palestinian groups in Lebanon, and the Lebanese National Movement, which included people who supported Palestinian groups and had left-wing ideas. The Lebanese National Movement stopped existing after Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and was replaced by the Lebanese National Resistance Front.

Most militias did not care much about protecting ordinary people, and some battles hurt civilians.

Finances

As the war went on, militias became more like organized crime groups. They got money in three main ways:

Outside support: Countries like Syria or Israel helped with money. Other Arab countries and Iran also gave funds. These countries changed sides often.
Local population: Militias and the political groups they supported thought they had the right to collect taxes to protect their communities. They often set up checkpoints to collect these taxes. Many people saw this as fair, but others thought it was just stealing.
Smuggling: Lebanon became a big place for illegal trade, especially of drugs like hashish from the Bekaa valley. They also smuggled guns, stolen goods, and other items. Many fights happened over control of ports to access sea routes for smuggling.

Cantons

As the government lost control, different groups started running their own areas, called cantons. These were like small, independent regions. One well-known area was "Marounistan," controlled by the Phalangist and Lebanese Forces. Another was the "Civil Administration of the Mountain," controlled by the Progressive Socialist Party and known as Jebel-el-Druze. The Marada area around Zghorta was called the "Northern Canton".

A reporter visited the East Beirut Christian canton in 1976 and found that, unlike villages outside, streets in Maronite towns were clean, gas cost much less, and bread prices were kept low.

Maronite Christians

Maronite Christian militias got weapons from countries like Romania, Bulgaria, West Germany, Belgium, and Israel. They were mostly right-wing and included many Maronite people. The main groups were:

The National Liberal Party, led by Camille Chamoun and his son Dany Chamoun's Tigers Militia. The Kataeb Party, or Phalangists, founded by Pierre Gemayel, had its own militia led first by William Hawi and later by Bachir Gemayel. These groups joined together to form the Lebanese Forces.

There were fights between these groups. In 1980, the Tigers Militia was attacked by the Lebanese Forces. In 1985, the Lebanese Forces split from other groups to become independent. Later, there was a disagreement between leaders Samir Geagea and Hobeika, leading to more conflict.

Secularists

Although some militias said they were not based on religion, most still mainly helped people from their own groups. There were some groups that were not religious, mostly on the left or with pan-Arab ideas.

Examples included the Lebanese Communist Party and the Communist Action Organization. The Syrian Social Nationalist Party wanted a bigger Syria and was led by people from different Christian backgrounds. The South Lebanon Army worked with Israel and was made up of people from different religious backgrounds. There were also two Ba'ath movements, one supporting Iraq and one supporting Syria.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party had training camps in Lebanon. The Armenian Marxist-Leninist group ASALA was founded in West Beirut in 1975 and fought alongside Palestinian groups.

Palestinians

Palestinian groups moved to Lebanon after leaving Jordan in 1970. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led by Yassir Arafat, was the main group. They had around 21,000 fighters when the war started in 1975.

Druze

The Druze people, living mainly in the Chouf area, worked hard to build alliances. Under leaders like Kamal Jumblatt and later his son Walid, the Progressive Socialist Party served as a Druze militia. They built good relationships with the Soviet Union and Syria. They had around 2,500 fighters at the start of the war, growing to 10,000 by 1984. They fought mainly in the Mount Lebanon area.

Shia Muslims

Further information: History of Hezbollah and Lebanese Resistance Regiments

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Shia Muslims in Lebanon did not have strong organizations, so many joined other groups. With the start of the war in 1975, Musa Sadr started the Movement of the Dispossessed, later known as AMAL, which grew quickly.

After Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, Hezbollah was formed. Hezbollah aimed to end Israeli occupation and Western influence in Lebanon. By 1984, Hezbollah had thousands of fighters and became the best-organized Shia group.

Alawites

The Alawites in Lebanon, a Shia group, were part of the Red Knights Militia of the Arab Democratic Party, which supported Syria and operated mainly in Northern Lebanon around Tripoli.

Sunni Muslims

Some Sunni groups got support from Libya and Iraq. There were many small militias because Sunnis often did not want to join big military groups. The main Sunni group was al-Mourabitoun, based in west Beirut and led by Ibrahim Kulaylat. They fought with Palestinian groups against Israel during the 1982 invasion. There were also other groups like the Popular Nasserist Organization in Sidon.

Armenians

Armenian groups were Christian but had left-wing ideas, so they tried to stay neutral. The Armenian Dashnak party controlled areas like Bourj Hamoud and Naaba. In 1979, they defended these areas against attacks. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Lebanon did not pick a side, but its armed groups carried out operations during the war.

Chronology of decisive events

The Lebanese Civil War started in 1975 and ended in 1990. It was a long and hard time for Lebanon. Many people were hurt, and some lost their homes. The war made life very difficult for families.

Here are some important moments from the war:

1975: The war begins

In April 1975, fighting began between different groups in Lebanon. This fighting grew and turned into a full war. Many people were scared and had to leave their homes.

1976: Syria enters the war

In 1976, Syria sent soldiers into Lebanon. They said they were there to help, but their presence made the war even harder for many people.

1982: Israel invades Lebanon

In June 1982, Israel entered Lebanon. They said they were fighting a group called the PLO. The fighting caused more problems and suffering for people living there.

1985: The war continues

By 1985, the war was still going on. Different groups kept fighting, and it was hard for people to feel safe.

1990: The war ends

In 1990, the war finally ended. A new government took control, and people hoped for peace. Even though the war was over, it left deep marks on the country and its people.

First phase (1975–1977)

In 1975, small fights in Lebanon grew into a bigger conflict. Groups like the Lebanese National Movement and the Phalange fought, and the government had trouble keeping peace. In April 1975, a sad event happened in East Beirut, called the "Bus Massacre". Later in 1975, known as Black Saturday, more sad events happened at roadblocks, causing more violence.

In January 1976, sad events happened in the Karantina Massacre, and fighting continued. Syria sent troops into Lebanon in 1976. By the end of this phase, the country was split, with different areas controlled by various groups, and many people sadly lost their lives.

Main article: Syrian intervention in the Lebanese Civil War

Second phase (1977–1982)

Hundred Days' War

The Hundred Days' War was part of the Lebanese Civil War. It happened in Beirut between February and April 1978. Christian forces and Syrian troops fought. Syrian troops attacked a Christian area of Beirut for 100 days. The conflict ended with Syrian troops leaving East Beirut.

1978 Israeli invasion

In 1977 and 1978, fighters from a group based in Lebanon attacked Israel. In March 1978, these fighters hijacked buses in Israel. In response, Israel invaded parts of southern Lebanon in Operation Litani. The Israeli Army took control of areas south of the Litani River. The UN Security Council asked Israel to leave and set up a UN peace group called the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to help keep peace.

Israel's "Security Zone" in Lebanon

After withdrawing, Israeli forces kept control of a small area near the border, helped by local fighters led by Saad Haddad. During this time, there were many attacks between different groups.

Day of the Long Knives

The Safra massacre, called the Day of the Long Knives, happened on July 7, 1980, in the town of Safra near Beirut. It was part of efforts by Bashir Gemayel to bring all Christian fighters together under his leadership. In a surprise attack, many people were killed.

Battle of Zahleh

In early 1981, violence increased in Lebanon. In the south, there were fights between local fighters and UN peace troops. In Zahleh, a Christian town, there were big battles. Syrian troops surrounded the town but later ended the siege. There were also many air attacks and fights in different parts of the country.

Third phase (1982–1984)

1982 Israeli invasion

Main article: 1982 Lebanon War

Pretext

In June 1982, a group tried to harm an Israeli leader in London. Israel attacked targets in Lebanon, causing many deaths. The group from Lebanon fought back, breaking a peace agreement.

On June 5, United Nations leaders asked all groups to stop fighting right away.

Israeli alliance with Christian militias

Israel moved into parts of Lebanon on June 6, 1982. They worked with some leaders in Lebanon. The leader of Israel said they planned to move forward, destroy certain areas, and create a safe space for Israel.

Israeli leaders decided to go toward a big city. The United Nations asked Israel to leave Lebanon, but the United States stopped that request.

Siege of Beirut

Main article: Siege of Beirut

By June 15, 1982, Israeli forces were close to a big city. The United States asked a group to leave Lebanon, and bombing began. Through talks, an agreement was reached when international forces arrived to help everyone leave safely.

Ceasefire negotiations by the United Nations

On June 26, the United Nations asked Israel to move back from a city as a first step to leaving Lebanon completely, and for another group to leave the city too.

The United States stopped this request, but the leader of America asked the leader of Israel to stop the attack. Soon after, the leader of Israel agreed to stop.

With help from a special messenger, a peace agreement was made on August 12 after heavy attacks. The agreement called for all fighting groups to leave, and international forces would help protect people.

International intervention

Main article: Multinational Force in Lebanon

On August 21, 1982, international forces arrived in the city to watch over people leaving. Talks led to Syrian forces and fighters leaving the city. The agreement included international forces to help keep order.

A new leader was chosen, but he was killed a short time later.

17 May Agreement

On May 17, 1983, leaders from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States signed an agreement for Israel to leave, depending on Syrian forces leaving too. This was seen by many as giving Israel too much control over southern Lebanon.

The agreement caused big protests. Syria refused to talk about leaving, stopping any progress.

Mountain War

In August 1983, Israel left an area between two groups, leading to more fighting. By September 1983, one group had taken control, and Israel kept only a small safe area.

Iranian involvement and founding of Hezbollah

In 1982, Iran set up a base in a valley controlled by Syria. From there, they helped create a new group, drawing from people unhappy with the Israeli occupation. This group grew quickly with support from Iran.

6 February Intifada

Main article: February 6 Intifada

Fighting broke out in a part of the city where different groups, led by one organization, defeated government forces. Many soldiers joined the fighting groups, weakening the government greatly.

U.S. disengagement from Lebanon

After the fighting, the United States decided to leave Lebanon, and the government canceled the May 17 agreement. The forces left a few weeks later.

Fourth phase (1984–1990)

War of the Camps

Between 1985 and 1989, fighting grew worse as peace efforts failed. Big battles happened in the War of the Camps of 1985–86 when a group backed by Syria tried to take areas in Lebanon from others. Many people were hurt, and some neighborhoods were almost destroyed.

There were many explosions during this time, causing injuries and deaths. Leaders tried to meet to stop the fighting, but more bombs went off. The fighting continued and many people were hurt.

In 1987, fighting returned to a major city when different groups fought each other, leading Syria to send soldiers to try to stop the battles.

War of Brothers

In 1988, fighting began again in some areas between two groups. In May, one group attacked the other's positions and took control of much of a neighborhood.

Fighting happened again later in 1989 in the south, but by the end of that year, the battles slowed down. Small fights continued into 1990 but stopped completely by November.

Iraqi support for Christian anti-Shia factions

During this time, Iraq got involved by supporting some Christian groups as part of its conflict with Iran. This made the fighting worse. Lebanon was split between two governments.

In March 1989, one leader began blocking ports used by others, leading to more fighting that lasted for months. He called it a "war of liberation" against Syria and its allies but it caused damage and many people left the area.

Taif Agreement of 1989

The Taif Agreement of 1989 helped end the fighting. Leaders from several countries met to find solutions, and Lebanese leaders agreed to a peace plan in October. The agreement gave Syria a big role in Lebanon. When they returned, they made the agreement official and chose a new president. However, one military leader did not accept the agreement.

Infighting in East Beirut

Tension grew between the leader of the army and another group in the Christian part of the city. Fighting broke out and caused damage. The army tried to take control but did not succeed.

Later, Syria sent soldiers to help end the fighting, which finally cleared out the remaining areas controlled by the leader. He fled to a foreign embassy and later went into exile.

Lebanon's amnesty law and Hezbollah's hegemony

In 1991, Lebanon’s parliament passed a law that forgave most political crimes. Most groups stopped fighting, but one group did not. There was still some violence, including a big explosion that hurt many people.

Aftermath

After the war ended, Lebanon had many problems. Syria took control of the country, which was hard for many Lebanese people.

In 2005, the death of a leader named Rafik Hariri led to big protests that helped Syria leave Lebanon.

The war had lasting effects on Lebanon’s politics. Different groups formed alliances based on their beliefs. Some groups worked together, while others had different ideas about how the country should be run. Even today, these alliances shape how Lebanon is governed. The Lebanese army has worked to bring stability to the country.

Casualties

The Lebanese Civil War caused many deaths and injuries. Many people lost their homes and had to leave their neighborhoods.

Thousands of land mines were buried in areas that were fought over. Some Western hostages kidnapped during the mid-1980s were held for many years.

"Lebanonization"

Lebanonization is a term that started with Israeli president Shimon Peres in 1983. It describes how a country can become weaker and face big problems, like what happened in Lebanon during its civil war. This term began after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, when Israel tried to have less involvement in the area.

In popular culture

Many songs, films, and artworks were inspired by the Lebanese Civil War. In 1984, the British synthpop band The Human League made a song called "The Lebanon" about the conflict. The English rock band Genesis wrote a song called "Domino" in 1986.

Artists from around the world created works about the war. For example, Out of Life by Maroun Baghdadi won an award in 1991. In 2009, an exhibition named "The Road to Peace" showed art by Lebanese artists. The 2010 Canadian film Incendies shows the war and its effects on families.

Books and music also reflect this time. The children’s book From Far Away by Robert Munsch tells of a family finding safety in another country. Paintings by Nabil Kanso and a 2021 film called Memory Box also explore the war. The 2018 film Beirut and a 2025 album named Witness by the Kronos Quartet focus on this period.