AUB Libraries Online Exhibits

1977-1979

1977

March 16: Assassination of Kamal Jumblatt, leader of the National Movement.

March 17-19: Massacres against Christian civilians in the Chouf villages of Barouk, Botmeh, Kfarnabrakh, Mazraat el-Chouf, Maasser el-Chouf, Machghara and Brih, in reaction to the assassination of Jumblatt.

1978

March 14-15: Israel invades South Lebanon claiming retaliation for a PLO fighters attack into its territory. Israeli army push up as far the Litani river, approximately 40 km north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

March 19: United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, which calls on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory and creates a 6,000-man peacekeeping force called UNIFIL to ensure it happens. Israel withdraws and passes control of the land to its proxy army, the pro-Christian South Lebanon Army (SLA).

June 13: Massacre of Ehden by a Phalangist commando, killing Tony Frangieh and his family members and bodyguards.

September 17: Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, the first Arab-Israeli peace. Palestinians in Lebanon vow to escalate their attacks on Israel.

1979

Series of battles to unify the Christian forces under the leadership of Bashir Gemayel.