--- title: "Lebanese Civil War Begins" year: 1975 country: "Lebanon" canonical: "https://recap.at/1975/lebanese-civil-war" slug: "lebanese-civil-war" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "1975-04-13" --- # Lebanese Civil War Begins > Lebanese Civil War Begins In April 1975, Lebanon descended into civil war as rival militias-primarily Christian and Muslim factions-began armed conflict that would ravage the country for 15 years. The war killed an estimated 150,000 people, displaced nearly a million, and turned Beirut from a thriving regional hub into a symbol of state collapse. It reshaped the entire Middle East's political landscape and demonstrated how quickly sectarian tensions could destroy a functioning state. ## Summary The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. ## Key facts - **Duration**: 15 years (1975–1990) - **Estimated deaths**: 150,000 - **Displaced persons**: Nearly 1 million - **Start date**: April 13, 1975 - **End date**: October 13, 1990 - **Primary belligerents**: Christian militias, Muslim militias, Palestinian factions, Syrian forces, Israeli forces - **Capital affected**: Beirut (divided into Christian east and Muslim west by 1976) ## Timeline - **1975-04-13** - Civil war erupts Fighting breaks out in Beirut between Christian Phalange militias and Muslim factions, triggered by tensions over Palestinian refugee presence and political power-sharing disputes. - **1976-01-01** - Beirut divided The capital splits into Christian-controlled east and Muslim-controlled west, with the Green Line becoming the de facto border. Syrian forces enter Lebanon to stabilize the conflict. - **1978-03-14** - Israeli invasion Israel invades southern Lebanon in response to a Palestinian attack, establishing a security zone that it will maintain for 22 years. - **1982-06-06** - Operation Peace for Galilee Israel launches a major invasion with the stated goal of removing Palestinian fighters; Lebanese casualties mount significantly and the war intensifies. - **1983-05-17** - Lebanese-Israeli accord Lebanon and Israel sign a ceasefire agreement, though it fails to hold and Israeli forces remain in occupation. - **1987-02-06** - West Beirut explodes Heavy fighting erupts in western Beirut between rival Shia militias (Hezbollah and Amal), causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. - **1989-09-22** - Ta'if Agreement Saudi-sponsored accord is reached in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, establishing a framework for ending the war and reforming Lebanon's political system. - **1990-10-13** - War officially ends The Lebanese Civil War formally concludes after 15 years. Syrian forces complete occupation of Lebanon as militias are gradually disarmed, though stability remains fragile. ## Consequences - **1976 - Syrian military intervention and occupation**: Syria deployed 30,000 troops in June 1976, ostensibly as peacekeepers but effectively to prevent Palestinian-leftist groups from winning decisively. Syria maintained military and intelligence control over Lebanese territory until 2005, making Lebanon a de facto Syrian client state for nearly 30 years. - **1982 - Israeli invasion and occupation begins**: Israel invaded Lebanon in June 1982 to destroy PLO military capacity, eventually occupying the southern third of the country. The invasion killed an estimated 20,000 people and displaced 600,000. Israel remained in a "security zone" until May 2000, but the invasion accelerated Hezbollah's formation and radicalization. - **1985 - Hezbollah founded with Iranian backing**: Born from the Shia community's experience of marginalization and Israeli occupation, Hezbollah emerged as an Iranian-backed militia and social services network. It would eventually become Lebanon's most powerful military force and a major political party, fundamentally reshaping the country's power structure. - **1990 - Ta'if Agreement ends official hostilities**: Brokered by Saudi Arabia and the UN, the Ta'if Agreement formally ended the 15-year war and rebalanced the confessional system slightly in favor of Muslims. However, it did nothing to resolve underlying sectarian tensions, disarm militias, or establish accountability. Most warring factions were simply reintegrated into government. - **2019 - Lebanon's currency collapses; financial crisis engulfs nation**: Decades of post-war corruption, mismanagement, and currency pegging to the dollar finally imploded in 2019-2020. The Lebanese pound lost 90% of its value, poverty rates skyrocketed, and the banking system froze. The economic catastrophe reignited protests and underscored how the war's institutional failures were never addressed. - **2020 - Beirut port explosion kills 218, injures 7,000**: On August 4, 2020, inadequately stored ammonium nitrate at Beirut's port detonated in a massive explosion that killed 218 people and wounded over 7,000. The disaster symbolized Lebanon's institutional decay and the enduring legacy of conflict—the port had been effectively controlled by Hezbollah, and investigations revealed systemic negligence and political paralysis. ## Then vs now - **Beirut population**: 1975: ~1.5 million → 2024: ~2.4 million (greater Beirut area) - Nominal growth masked by significant displacement and emigration during the war - **Lebanon's GDP per capita**: 1975: $2,100 USD → 2023: $1,400 USD (nominal, crisis-affected) - Declined due to war destruction and subsequent economic mismanagement; currency collapsed post-2019 - **Estimated Lebanese diaspora**: 1975: ~400,000 → 2024: ~4-5 million - More people of Lebanese descent now live abroad than in Lebanon itself - **Hezbollah's political presence**: 1975: Nonexistent → 2024: 12 parliamentary seats, major government influence - Founded 1985; evolved from militant group into Lebanon's largest Shia political organization - **Israeli military presence in Lebanon**: 1975: None → 2024: None (withdrew from security zone in 2000, but border remains tense) - 1982 invasion led to 18-year occupation; 2006 war demonstrated tensions persist ## Impact The Lebanese Civil War exposed the fragility of multicommunal states without strong institutional safeguards. Its 15-year duration and sectarian character established a template for regional instability that persisted through the 1980s and beyond, while the war's conclusion in 1990 demonstrated that exhaustion, not victory, often ends protracted conflicts. ## Sources - [Lebanese Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Civil_War) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/1975/lebanese-civil-war