A Brief History of Lebanon in the 20th Century

At the end of World War I, France received a mandate over the territory of Syria and separated the region of Lebanon as a separate nation in 1920. Lebanon was originally created to allow for the rights of the Maronite Christians, who were a majority in Lebanon at that time. France later granted Lebanon its independence in 1943, as World War II required all of its attention. After becoming independent, Lebanon ratified a constitution that worked to balance the Christian Majority with the large Muslim minorities. The demographics quickly shifted in favor of the Muslims, because cultural ties and religious affiliations proved stronger than a national unity based on a piece of land carved out by the French. From 1975 to 1990, Lebanon experienced ongoing civil war, which devastated the country’s political institutions as well as overall infrastructure. Additionally, neighbors Israel and Syria both occupied and attempted to assert control over the country. The Ta’if Accords, constructed in 1989, were designed to transfer power from the presidency (traditionally Maronite) to a cabinet divided equally between Christians and Muslims. Also, the accords extended Lebanese control over the South, where Israel was occupier. Israel did not withdraw from Southern Lebanon until 2000, and the armed Hezbollah militia (considered by Lebanon to be a source of social welfare and security) remained in control of the region. Additionally, the accords provided for a joint Syrian-Lebanese security agreement.

Since the end of the war, Lebanon has enjoyed a number of successful elections, most militias have broken up, and the Lebanese Armed Forces has authority over two-thirds of the country. Hezbollah, mentioned above, still maintains considerable control (and weapons) in the South. The US State Department identifies Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization because of its violence toward Israel, and the US also blames Syria for providing the militia with weapons, thus promoting Hezbollah’s violence and terrorism.

After Israel’s withdrawal in 2000 and a United Nations resolution in 2004—calling for Syria to end interference in Lebanese affairs and completely withdraw from the country—multiple Lebanese groups took up the effort and demanded Syrian withdrawal. In February 2005, mass demonstrations, known as “The Cedar Revolution”, were conducted in Beirut against Syria’s presence after former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and other government figures were assassinated. Because of the protests, Syria withdrew its military forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May of that year, Lebanon held its first completely free legislative elections.

Lebanon still witnesses violence to this day. In July 2006, Hezbollah crossed into Israel and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah also launched rockets over the massive fence separating Israel and Lebanon, which hit border towns and farms. This prompted a major offensive by Israel, which lasted 34 days, killing numerous Lebanese civilians, destroying major highways and buildings, and targeting Hezbollah’s headquarters. Beirut’s international airport was also attacked and put out of action.

Additionally, Lebanon has witnessed violence when the Lebanese Armed Forces fought a Sunni extremist group in the Nahr al-Barid Palestinian refugee camp, and the country has experienced a string of political assassinations since the Prime Minister Hariri’s death in 2005.