AUB Libraries Online Exhibits

1984-1989

1984

February 6: An uprising by leftist movements and Afwaj Al-Muqawama al-Lubnaniya (AMAL) took place in West Beirut against the signing of a peace accord with Israel, and seized control of West Beirut.

Spring 1984: Multinational force leaves Beirut after the fall of the Lebanese government. Several westerners are abducted in Beirut, including William Buckley, station chief for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

1985

March 8:  Car bomb near the home of Sayed Mohamed Hussein Fadhlallah, at Bir el-Abed.

March 12: Lebanese Forces under the leadership of Elie Hubayka take control of East Beirut.

May 19: Flag War, AMAL consolidates its power over West Beirut. AMAL begins shelling Palestinian refugee camps in South Beirut.

June 10: The Israeli Army finishes withdrawing out of most of Lebanon, but keeps  a “security zone"  patrolled by the South Lebanon Army and Israeli soldiers.

December 29: The three party agreement was signed by Berri, Jumblatt and Hubayka to end the war under the patronage of Syria.

1986

January: Geagea uprising against the three-party agreement and the expulsion of Hubayka from East Beirut. AMAL continues its attacks on Palestinians’ camps. Abductions of Westerners continue.

Six Days War, clashes between Shiite and Druze militia in West Beirut breaks the agreement, Syrian troops mobilize to end the clashes and take control of the city.

September 3: National Dialog to end the war started.

1987

January: Terry Waitespecial envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, disappears in West Beirut while seeking the release of other Western hostages.

May 21: Lebanon cancels 1969 Cairo agreement with the PLO, and also abrogates the May 17, 1983 agreement with Israel.

June 1: Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami is assassinated when a bomb explodes in his helicopter. He is replaced by Selim el-Hoss.

1988

Brothers War: clashes between Shiite groups in AMAL and Hezbollah.

September 22: The presidency of Amin Gemayel ends without a successorLebanon operates under two rival governments—a military government led by renegade general Michel Aoun, and a civil government headed by Selim el Hoss, a Sunni Muslim.

1989

March 14: War of Liberation: General Michel Aoun declares war against Syrian occupation. Syrian forces, backed by their Lebanese militia allies, respond by besieging East Beirut. Aoun backs down.

September 22: Lebanon's National Assembly meets in Taif, Saudi Arabia. A Document of National Reconciliation is drawn up, which transfers executive power from the president to the cabinet. The previous 6:5 ratio of Christian to Muslims seats in the assembly is adjusted so that an equal balance between members is achieved.

October 22: Taif accord signed.

November 22: President Elect René Muawad, believed to have been a reunification candidate, is assassinated. He is replaced by Ilyas al-Harawi (Elias Hrawi) General Emile Lahoud is named to replace General Michel Aoun, commander of the Lebanese army.