How long did the Lebanese Civil War last and how many people died?
The Lebanese Civil War lasted from 1975 to 1990, a span of fifteen years. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and forced nearly one million people to flee Lebanon.
Questions about Lebanese Civil War
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What started the Lebanese Civil War in 1975?
Fighting began on the 13th of April 1975 when unidentified gunmen fired on a church in the East Beirut suburb of Ain el-Rummaneh, killing four people including two Maronite Phalangists. Hours later, Phalangists killed 30 Palestinians in the same suburb, triggering citywide clashes. The event is known as the Bus Massacre.
What role did Syria play in the Lebanese Civil War?
Syria entered Lebanon militarily on the 1st of June 1976, when 12,000 regular Syrian troops began operations against Palestinian and leftist militias. The Arab League subsequently gave Syria a mandate to keep 40,000 troops in the country as the Arab Deterrent Force. Syria remained a major power broker throughout the conflict, opposing the 1983 Taif-predecessor agreement and supporting various Lebanese factions at different stages.
How was Hezbollah founded during the Lebanese Civil War?
In 1982, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran established a base in the Syrian-controlled Bekaa Valley and founded, financed, trained, and equipped Hezbollah as a proxy force. The group recruited from Shia communities resisting the Israeli occupation and drew inspiration from the Iranian Revolution of 1979. By 1988, Hezbollah's militia numbered an estimated 25,000 fighters.
What was the Taif Agreement and how did it end the Lebanese Civil War?
The Taif Agreement was negotiated in October-November 1989 under the auspices of the Arab League and redistributed political power among Lebanon's sectarian communities. It was the framework for ending the war. In March 1991, the Lebanese Parliament passed a general amnesty for political crimes, and in May 1991 all armed factions were formally dissolved, except for Hezbollah.
What was the Sabra and Shatila massacre during the Lebanese Civil War?
Between the 16th and the 18th of September 1982, Lebanese Phalangist fighters allied with Israeli forces killed between 460 and 3,500 Lebanese and Palestinian civilians in the Shatila refugee camp and the adjacent Sabra neighborhood of Beirut. Israeli forces blocked exits and illuminated the area with flares while the killings took place. The Israeli government's Kahan Commission, reporting in 1983, found then-Defense Minister Ariel Sharon personally responsible.