---
title: "Cedar Revolution Protests"
year: 2005
country: "Lebanon"
canonical: "https://recap.at/2005/cedar-revolution"
slug: "cedar-revolution"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "2005-02-14"
endDate: "2005-04-27"
---

# Cedar Revolution Protests

> Mass demonstrations following Hariri's death forced Syrian military withdrawal and represented a rare moment of cross-sectarian Lebanese unity.

In February 2005, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese took to the streets of Beirut after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops and an end to Syrian political control. The uprising, which lasted weeks and drew people across sectarian lines, forced Syria to announce a pullout and triggered early parliamentary elections. It marked a rare moment of unified Lebanese resistance that temporarily reshaped the country's political landscape.

## Summary

The Cedar Revolution, known in Lebanon as the Independence intifada, was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The popular movement was remarkable for its avoidance of violence, peaceful approach, and its total reliance on methods of civil resistance.

## Key facts

- **Peak crowd size**: ~1 million protesters (March 14, 2005 rally)
- **Triggering event**: Assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005
- **Syrian military presence end**: April 2005 (announced), completed by May 2005
- **Duration of main protests**: February–May 2005
- **Syrian military tenure in Lebanon**: 29 years (1976–2005)
- **Deaths in Hariri assassination**: 22 people
- **Subsequent parliamentary elections**: June 2005

## Timeline

- **2005-02-14** - Assassination of Rafic Hariri
  Former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri killed in Beirut car bombing along with 21 others. The attack catalyzes immediate suspicions of Syrian involvement.
- **2005-02-16** - Initial anti-Syrian demonstrations
  Thousands gather in Beirut demanding accountability and calling for Syrian withdrawal, beginning sustained protest movement.
- **2005-03-01** - Pro-Syrian counter-rally
  Hizbollah and Amal organize competing demonstration, highlighting sectarian fractures beneath surface unity.
- **2005-03-14** - Peak Cedar Revolution rally
  Estimated 1 million protesters gather in Beirut's Martyrs' Square demanding Syrian withdrawal and new elections, marking largest demonstration in Lebanese history.
- **2005-03-19** - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announces withdrawal
  Assad declares Syria will begin military pullout, yielding to sustained pressure from Cedar Revolution.
- **2005-04-26** - Final Syrian troop deployment ends
  Last Syrian military units formally leave Lebanese territory after 29-year occupation, ending tangible presence but not regional influence.
- **2005-06-19** - Parliamentary elections held
  First elections following Syrian withdrawal see strong performance by anti-Syrian March 14 bloc, solidifying Cedar Revolution's electoral impact.

## Impact

The Cedar Revolution temporarily unified a fractionally divided Lebanon and directly forced Syria to end a 29-year military presence. The movement demonstrated the power of sustained mass protest to shift geopolitical arrangements, though subsequent sectarian tensions and foreign intervention ultimately limited its long-term effects.

## Sources

- [Cedar Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Revolution) - Wikipedia

---
Canonical: https://recap.at/2005/cedar-revolution