Lebanon History Timeline

Events 1 - 100 of 115

• 1867-01-31 Maronite nationalist leader Youssef Karam leaves Lebanon on board of a French ship for Algeria
• 1905-02-13 -40°F (-40°C) Lebanon, Kansas (state record)
• 1920-09-01 France creates Greater Lebanon

• 1926-05-23 Lebanese constitution forms under French mandate
• 1926-05-26 Lebanon adopts constitution
• 1941-07-14 Cease fire of Joan of Arc (ends combat in Lebanon & Syria)
• 1941-11-26 Lebanon independence first proclaimed by France
• 1943-11-08 France arrests government of Lebanon after they abolish the French mandate
• 1943-11-22 France officially recognises the independence of Lebanon, releasing the imprisoned Lebanese government
• 1943-12-27 France transfers most of her powers in Lebanon to Lebanese government
• 1946-12-31 French troops leave Lebanon
• 1948-05-15 Troops from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia attack Israel
• 1950-06-17 Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia & Syria sign security pact
• 1953-05-31 Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government
• 1958-06-11 UN Security council sends observers to Lebanon

• 1961-12-31 Failed coup by Syrian group in Lebanon
• 1964-08-18 Charles Helu elected president of Lebanon
• 1966-07-26 WRLH TV channel 31 in Lebanon, NH (NBC) begins broadcasting
• 1968-12-29 Israeli commandos destroy 13 Lebanese airplanes
• 1969-04-24 Lebanese army in battle with Palestinians
• 1975-04-13 Christian Falange kills 27 Palestinians, begins Lebanese civil war
• 1976-01-26 Israel opens "Good Fence" to Lebanon
• 1976-09-29 Syria drives Palestinian guerrillas out of Lebanon
• 1976-10-19 Battle of Aishiya, Lebanon during Lebanese Civil War.
• 1978-03-15 -21] operation Litani: Israeli offensive in South Lebanon
• 1978-06-13 Israeli Defense Forces withdraw from Lebanon.
• 1978-09-28 Syrians & Lebanese engage in heavy fighting in Lebanon
• 1979-04-18 Major Haddad declares South-Lebanon independent
• 1980-07-07 The Safra massacre in Lebanon
• 1981-04-02 Heavy battle between Christian militia & Syrian army in East Lebanon
• 1982-06-04 Israel attacks targets in south Lebanon
• 1982-06-06 30,000 Israeli troops invade Lebanon to drive out the PLO
• 1982-06-10 Israeli troops reach outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon
• 1982-06-11 Israel and Syria stop fighting in Lebanon
• 1982-07-19 David S Dodge becomes 1st American hostage in Lebanon
• 1982-08-20 US marines land in Beirut Lebanon
• 1982-08-23 Lebanese falangist leader Bechir Gemayel elected as president
• 1982-09-01 Palestinian Liberation Organization leaves Lebanon
• 1982-09-14 Bomb at Lebanese Phalange party HQ kills President-elect Bachir Gemayel and 26 others
• 1982-09-23 Amin Gemayel sworn in as President of Lebanon
• 1982-09-24 US, Italian & French peacekeeping troops begin arriving in Lebanon
• 1983-04-18 A lone suicide bomber kills 63, at US Embassy in Lebanon
• 1983-05-16 Lebanese parliament accepts peace accord with Israel
• 1983-05-17 Israel & Lebanon sign a peace treaty
• 1983-07-21 US announces Lebanon freed American hostage David Dodge
• 1983-09-18 Lebanese & Syrian army battle
• 1983-09-26 Lebanon premier Chafiq Wazzan offers to resigns

• 1983-11-04 Bomb attack on Israeli headquarter in Tyrus Lebanon, 60 killed
• 1983-11-24 PLO exchanges 6 Israeli prisoners for 4,500 Palestinians & Lebanese
• 1983-12-04 US jet fighters strike Syrian anti-aircraft positions in Lebanon

• 1984-02-02 Lebanese army fights in Beirut
• 1984-02-06 Muslim militiamen take over West Beirut from Lebanese army
• 1984-02-26 Last US marines in multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon left Beirut
• 1984-03-30 US ends participation in multinational Lebanon peace force
• 1985-02-16 Lebanese political and military organization Hezbollah founded
• 1985-05-28 David Jacobsen taken hostage in Beirut Lebanon
• 1985-06-09 American Thomas Sutherland is kidnapped & held hostage in Lebanon
• 1985-06-14 Lebanese Shiite Muslim extremists hijacked TWA Flight 847
• 1985-12-28 Warring Lebanese Muslim & Christian leaders sign peace agreement
• 1986-03-08 4 French TV crew members are abducted in west Beirut Lebanon
• 1986-07-26 Lebanese kidnappers released Rev Lawrence Martin Jenco
• 1986-11-03 Lebanese magazine Ash Shirra reveals secret US arms sales to Iran
• 1986-12-24 French hostage Aurel Cornea, held in Lebanon for 9 months, released
• 1987-01-20 Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite taken hostage in Beirut, Lebanon by Islamic militia group
• 1987-06-18 Charles Glass, ABC journalist, kidnapped in Lebanon
• 1988-02-17 US Lt Col William Higgins kidnapped in south Lebanon by Lebanese terrorists & later killed
• 1988-10-03 Lebanese kidnappers release Mithileshwar Singh (held for 30 months)
• 1988-10-19 Car bomb kills 7 Israelis, wounds 11 near Lebanon border
• 1989-11-04 Rene Muawad elected president of Lebanon
• 1989-11-24 Elias Hrawi elected president of Lebanon
• 1990-04-22 Lebanon release US hostage Robert Polhill after 39 months
• 1990-11-10 Lebanon releases 2 French hostages (Camille Sontag & Marcel Coudari)
• 1991-12-02 Muslim Shi'ites release American hostage Joseph Cicippio held in Lebanon
• 1991-12-03 Muslim Shi'ites in Beirut, Lebanon release US political hostage Alann Steen [1]
• 1993-07-25 Israeli offensive against terrorist bases in South Lebanon
• 1994-04-18 Lebanon drops relations with Iran
• 1996-04-18 In Lebanon, at least 106 civilians are killed when the Israel Defense Forces accidentally shell the UN compound at Quana.
• 1997-02-04 En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel killing 73.
• 2000-05-24 Israeli troops withdraw from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation.
• 2000-05-25 Liberation Day of Lebanon. Israel withdraws its army from most of the Lebanese territory after 22 years of its first invasion in 1978.
• 2000-06-16 Israel complies with UN Security Council Resolution 425 after 22 years, which calls on Israel to completely withdraw from Lebanon. Israel withdraws from all of Lebanon, except the disputed Sheba Farms.

• 2001-06-21 A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen
• 2005-02-14 Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, is assassinated, prompting the country to fall into chaos.
• 2005-02-28 Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister, Omar Karami, resigns amid large anti-Syria street demonstrations in Beirut.
• 2005-03-14 Cedar Revolution, where over a million Lebanese march in the streets of Beirut to demonstrate against the Syrian military presence in Lebanon, and against the government, following the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
• 2005-04-26 Under international pressure, Syria withdraws the last of its 14,000 troop military garrison in Lebanon, ending its 29-year military domination of the country
• 2005-04-29 Syria completes withdrawal from Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation
• 2005-07-26 Samir Geagea, the Lebanese Forces (LF) leader, is released after spending 11 years in a solitary confinement; his release came after Syria ends occupation of Lebanon
• 2005-12-11 Cronulla riots: thousands of white Australians demonstrate against ethnic violence, resulting in a riot against anyone thought to be Lebanese (and many who were not) in Cronulla Sydney. These are followed by ethnic attacks on Cronulla.
• 2006-11-21 Anti-Syrian Lebanese Minister and MP Pierre Gemayel is assassinated in suburban Beirut.
• 2006-12-10 One million Lebanese opposition supporters gather in downtown Beirut, calling for the government to resign.
• 2009-09-02 66th Venice Film Festival: "Lebanon" directed by Samuel Maoz wins Golden Lion
• 2012-10-19 8 people are killed and 78 injured by a car bomb in Beirut, Lebanon
• 2013-08-23 50 people are killed in mosque bombings in Tripoli, Lebanon
• 2013-11-19 23 people are killed by a suicide bombing attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
• 2014-02-15 Tammam Salam is elected Prime Minister of Lebanon after a 10 month gridlock

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• 1828-05-08 Sharbel Makhluf, Lebanese Maronite monk, born in Bekaa Kafra, North Governorate, Lebanon (d. 1898)
• 1845-02-03 Ernst von Wildenbruch, German playwright (Sedan), born in Beirut in Lebanon (d. 1909)
• 1876-02-23 Wadih Sabra, Lebanese composer (Kulluna lil Watan), born in Beirut, Vilayet of Syria, Ottoman Empire (d. 1952)
• 1883-01-06 Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-American poet (The Prophet; Broken Wings; Sand and Foam), painter, and philosopher, born in Bsharri, Mount Lebanon, Ottoman Syria (d. 1931)
• 1889-12-22 Mikha`il Na'imah, Lebanese playwright, born in Baskinta, Lebanon (d. 1988)
• 1900-04-03 Camille Chamoun, President of Lebanon (1952-58), born in Deir el Qamar, Ottoman Empire (d. 1987)
• 1908-09-07 Michael DeBakey, Lebanese-American cardiac surgeon and artificial heart pioneer, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana (d. 2008)
• 1914-06-11 Jack Mann, British fighter pilot and hostage, kidnapped by Islamists in Lebanon in May 1989, born in Northampton, England (d. 1995)
• 1917-12-06 Kamal Jumblatt, Lebanese politician and founder of the Progressive Socialist Party, born in Moukhtara, Chouf, Mutasarrifate of Mount Lebanon, Ottoman Empire (d. 1977)
• 1921-12-30 Rashid Karami, Lebanese statesman (elected Prime Minister 8 times between 1958-87), born in Miriata, State of Greater Lebanon (d. 1987)
• 1923-02-13 Yfrah Neaman, Israeli-British concert violinist, and pedagogue, born in Sidon, Lebanon (d. 2003)
• 1923-05-04 Assi Rahbani, Lebanese musical theater composer, with his lyricist brother, Mansour (Biya el-Khawatim - The Ring Seller), born in Antelias, Lebanon (d. 1986)
• 1930-07-01 Moustapha Akkad, Syrian-American film producer and director (Lion of the Dessert), born in Aleppo, French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (d. 2005)
• 1931-07-06 Emily Nasrallah, Lebanese writer and women's rights activist (Birds of September, A Cat’s Diary), born in Kfeir, Lebanon (d. 2018)
• 1932-04-10 Delphine Seyrig, French actress (Freak Orlando, Reperages), born in Beirut Lebanon (d. 1990)
• 1934-09-07 Omar Karami, Prime Minister of Lebanon (1990-92, 2004-05), born in An Nouri (d. 2015)

• 1935-02-18 Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon (2016-present), born in Haret Hreik, Lebanon
• 1935-11-21 Fairuz [Nouhad Haddad], Lebanese singer (Behebak Ya Libnan), born in Zuqaq al-Blat, Beirut, State of Greater Lebanon
• 1939-01-27 Tigran Mansuryan, Armenian composer (The Tango of Our Childhood; Requiem), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1939-05-31 Terry Waite, English Anglican Church envoy/Lebanese hostage, born in Bollington, Cheshire
• 1941-11-15 Adnan Al Sharqi, Lebanese soccer manager (Lebanon 1974–76, 1987–93, 2006–08; Ansar 11 x league titles), born in Beirut, Lebanon (d. 2021)
• 1947-10-27 Terry Anderson, American journalist, US hostage held in Lebanon (1985-91), born in Lorain, Ohio
• 1947-11-10 Bechir Gemayel, President-elect of Lebanon (8/23-9/14, 1982), born in Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon (d. 1982)
• 1948-07-06 Wadih Sa'adeh, Lebanese-Australian poet (Laysa Lil Massa’ Ikhwah), born in Lebanon
• 1949-08-07 Walid Jumblatt, Lebanese political leader, born in Moukhtara, Lebanon
• 1949-10-07 Gabriel Yared, Lebanese-French Grammy and Academy Award-winning film score composer (Betty Blue; The English Patient; The Talented Mr. Ripley; Chocolat), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1952-10-26 Abbas al-Musawi, influential Lebanese Shia cleric, and founder and leader of Hezbollah, born in Al-Nabi Shayth, Lebanon (d. 1992)
• 1956-12-13 Majida El Roumi, Lebanese singer, born in Kfarshima, Lebanon
• 1958-10-26 Bassam Saba, Lebanese violinist, oud, and nay player (New York Arabic Orchestra; Silk Road Ensemble), born in Tripoli, Lebanon (d. 2020)
• 1960-08-31 Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Lebanese terrorist group Hizbollah, born in Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon
• 1963-06-29 Khalid El-Masri, German-Lebanese suspected terrorist mistakenly abducted by the Macedonian police in 2003, and handed over to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), born in Kuwait

• 1963-11-15 Ben Elias, Australian rugby league hooker (6 Tests; NSW 19 games; Balmain RLFC 234 games) and broadcaster (SBS, Fox Sports), born in Tripoli, Lebanon
• 1964-04-20 George Pehlivanian, French-American symphonic and opera conductor, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1964-07-30 Alek Keshishian, Lebanese-American film director (Madonna: Truth or Dare), born in Beirut, Lebanon

• 1965-09-27 Steve Kerr, American basketball guard, head coach (5 NBA titles as player Chicago Bulls, SA Spurs - 3 as coach GS Warriors), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1966-02-26 Najwa Karam, Lebanese singer-songwriter ("Ma Bassmahlak"), born in Zahlé, Lebanon
• 1966-03-11 Joe Hachem, Australian poker player (first Australian to win World Series of Poker, 2005 record $7.5m), born in Lebanon
• 1967-08-21 Serj Tankian, Armenian-born singer (System of a Down), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1968-04-01 Julia Boutros, Lebanese singer, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1970-04-18 Saad Hariri, Lebanese-Saudi Prime Minister of Lebanon (2016-present), born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• 1970-06-22 Michel Elefteriades, Greek-Lebanese politician, artist, producer and businessman, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1971-12-06 Rika Hiraki, Japanese tennis star (1992 Japan doubles), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1972-06-29 Nawal Al Zoghbi, Lebanese singer, born in Jal el Dib, Lebanon
• 1972-10-27 Elissa [Elissar Zakaria Khoury] Lebanese singer, born in Deir el Ahmar, Lebanon
• 1973-07-15 John Dolmayan, Armenian-American heavy metal drummer (System Of A Down, since 1997 - "Chop Suey!"; "Toxicity"), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1974-06-26 Nicole Saba, Lebanese pop singer (The 4 Cats), and actress, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1974-08-17 Tony Hajjar, Lebanese-American drummer (At the Drive-In; Sparta), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1976-03-10 Haifa Wehbe, Lebanese-Egyptian actress, model, pop and world music singer, born in Mahrouna, Lebanon
• 1976-04-01 Hazem El Masri, Australian rugby league winger (Canterbury Bulldogs; NRL career point scoring record 2,418 points, 317 games; 159 tries, 891/1087 goals @ 81.97%), born in Tripoli, Lebanon
• 1976-08-14 Maya Nasri [Asmar], Lebanese actress and singer, born in Minyara, Lebanon
• 1977-02-20 Amal Hijazi, Lebanese pop singer (Zaman), born in Kfarfila, Lebanon
• 1977-06-05 Nourhanne, Armenian-Lebanese pop singer ("Habibi ya Einy"), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1977-09-23 Susan Tamim, Lebanese singer and actress (Studio El Fan), born in Beirut, Lebanon (d. 2008)
• 1978-02-03 Amal Clooney, British-Lebanese human rights lawyer (Julian Assange), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1980-01-14 Ossama Haidar, Lebanese soccer player
• 1980-11-05 Ibrahim Maalouf, French-Lebanese jazz trumpeter and composer, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1980-12-05 Ibrahim Maalouf, Lebanese-born French trumpeter, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1980-12-10 Massari [Sari Abboud], Lebanese-born Canadian R&B singer (Be Easy), born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1981-05-05 Marcelle Bittar, Brazilian-Lebanese supermodel, born in Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil
• 1983-05-03 Myriam Fares, Lebanese singer, Arab female artist who performs choreographed dance routines while singing, born in Kfar Chellal, Lebanon
• 1983-05-16 Nancy Ajram, Lebanese Arab-pop singer ("Betfakkar Fe Eih" (What Are You Thinking About); "Mitagalak"), and television personality (Arab Idol; The Voice Kids), born in Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
• 1983-08-18 Mika [Michael Holbrook Penniman] British-American pop singer (Grace Kelly; Dodgy Holiday), an Italian television personality, born in Beirut, Lebanon
• 1984-04-29 Firass Dirani, Lebanese-Australian actor (Power Rangers Mystic Force), born in Sydney, Australia
• 1985-12-14 Paul Rabil, Lebanese-American professional lacrosse player, born in Gaithersburg, Maryland
• 1989-05-29 Sanah Kadoura, Lebanese-Canadian jazz drummer and percussionist, born in Calgary, Alberta