In , a treaty of friendship was signed with Syria, which in effect gave Syria control over Lebanon's foreign relations. In early , the Lebanese government, backed by Syria, regained control over the south and disbanded various militias, thereby ending the year civil war, which had destroyed much of the infrastructure and industry of Lebanon. In June , just before Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu left office, Israel bombed southern Lebanon, its most severe attack on the country since In May , Israel's new prime minister, Ehud Barak, withdrew Israeli troops after 18 consecutive years of occupation.
In the summer of , Syria withdrew nearly all of its 25, troops from Beirut and surrounding areas. About 14, troops, however, remained in the countryside. With the continuation of Israeli-Palestinian violence in , Hezbollah again began building up forces along the Lebanese-Israeli border. In Aug. Despite outrage in the country, the Lebanese parliament did Syria's bidding, permitting Lahoud to serve for three more years. Syria responded by moving about 3, troops from the vicinity of Beirut to eastern Lebanon, a gesture that was viewed by many as merely symbolic.
As a result, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri ? On Feb. Many suspected Syria of involvement and large protests ensued, calling for Syria's withdrawal from the country. Several days later, Syria made a vague pledge to withdraw its troops but failed to announce a timetable.
On March 8, the militant group Hezbollah sponsored a massive pro-Syrian rally, primarily made up of Shiites. Hundreds of thousands gathered to thank Syria for its involvement in Lebanon. The pro-Syrian demonstrations led to President Lahoud's reappointment of Karami as prime minister on March 9.
But an anti-Syrian protest? In mid-March, Syria withdrew 4, troops and redeployed the remaining 10, to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, which borders Syria. In April, Omar Karami resigned a second time after failing to form a government. Lebanon's new prime minister, Najib Mikati? On April 26, after 29 years of occupation, Syria withdrew all of its troops.
In May and June , Syria held four rounds of parliamentary elections. An anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, the year-old son of assassinated former prime minister leader Rafik Hariri, won 72 out of seats. Former finance minister Fouad Siniora, who was closely associated with Hariri, became prime minister.
On Sept. The commander of Lebanon's Republican Guard, the former head of general security, the former chief of Lebanon's police, and the former military intelligence officer were indicted for the Feb.
On Oct. On July 12, , Hezbollah fighters entered Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers. In response, Israel launched a major military attack, bombing the Lebanese airport and other major infrastructures, as well as parts of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, led by Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, retaliated by launching hundreds of rockets and missiles into Israel Iran supplies Hezbollah with weapons, which are transported through Syria.
After a week of fighting, Israel made it clear that its offensive in Lebanon would continue until Hezbollah was routed. Although much of the international community demanded a cease-fire, the United States supported Israel's plan to continue the fighting until Hezbollah was drained of its military power Hezbollah is thought to have at least 12, rockets and missiles and had proved a much more formidable foe than anticipated.
On Aug. The UN planned to send a 15,member peacekeeping force. About 1, Lebanese, mostly civilians, and Israelis, mostly soldiers, died in the 34 days of fighting. More than , Lebanese were forced from their homes.
Almost immediately, Hezbollah began organizing reconstruction efforts, and handing out financial aid to families who had lost their homes, shoring up loyalty from Shiite civilians. In November, Pierre Gemayel, minister of industry and member of a well-known Maronite Christian political dynasty, was assassinated, the fifth anti-Syrian leader to be killed since the death of Rafik Hariri in Feb. Pro-government protesters blamed Syria and its Lebanese allies, and staged large demonstrations following the assassination.
These protests were then followed by even larger and more sustained demonstrations by Hezbollah supporters. Beginning Dec.
About 60 people were killed in May in battles between government troops and members of Islamic militant group Fatah al-Islam, which is based in a Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli in Lebanon. The group is similar in philosophy to al-Qaeda. In Sept. Those assassinations were followed in December with the killing of Gen.
Franois al-Hajj, a top general who was poised to succeed army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman. The Hezbollah faction had wanted the governing coalition to put forward a compromise candidate. Parliament adjourned the session and rescheduled elections.
A caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, took over on November 24 after President mile Lahoud's term expired and Parliament for the fourth time postponed a vote on his successor. Tension in Lebanon peaked in February , after the assassination of top Hezbollah military commander, Imad Mugniyah.
He was killed in a car bombing in Damascus, Syria. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who accused Israel of arranging the assassination, called for an "open war" against Israel. Sectarian violence between Hezbollah, a Shiite militia, and Sunnis broke out in May.
Fighting began when the government said it was shutting down a telecommunications network run by Hezbollah, calling it illegal, and attempted to dismiss a Hezbollah-backed head of airport security. Members of Hezbollah took control of large swaths of western Beirut, forced a government-supported television station off the air, and burned the offices of a newspaper loyal to the government.
The government accused Hezbollah of staging an "armed coup. In return, Hezbollah agreed to dismantle roadblocks that had paralyzed Beirut's airport. The government concessions were seen as a major victory for Hezbollah. After several days of negotiations, Hezbollah and the government reached a deal that had Hezbollah withdrawing from Beirut. In return, the government agreed that Parliament would vote to elect as president Gen.
Michel Suleiman, the commander of Lebanon? Parliament went ahead and elected Suleiman as president. He's considered a neutral figure, and his election ended 18 months of political gridlock.
Prime Minister Siniora formed a member cabinet in July, with the opposition holding 11 positions. Lebanon and Israel took part in a prisoner exchange in July.
Israel released five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kuntar, who killed an Israeli policeman, a man, and his young daughter in Lebanon, in turn, returned to Israel the bodies of two soldiers who were captured in the cross-border raid into Israel. The Middle Eastern country of Lebanon is located in the western portion of the continent of Asia. Lebanon measures about 4, square miles making it the smallest recognized country found in the entire mainland of the continent of Asia. The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates to more than 7, years back predating recorded history.
The Maronite Church, which is a monastic tradition, was established in Mount Lebanon range. Even though the region was conquered by Arab Muslims, the Maronites held tightly on to their identity and religion. It has also often been at the centre of Middle Eastern conflicts, despite its small size, because of its borders with Syria and Israel and its uniquely complex communal make-up.
Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Christians and Druze are the main population groups in a country that has been a refuge for the region's minorities for centuries. President: Michel Aoun. Michel Aoun was elected by parliament in October , ending a political stalemate which had left the country without a head of state since May He was army commander-in-chief from until and was appointed prime minister of the interim military government in He launched an unsuccessful "liberation war" against the presence of Syrian forces in and fled to France in When Syrian troops left in , he returned to form an alliance with pro-Syrian parties.
Prime minister: Najib Mikati. Najib Mikati, Lebanon's richest man, returned to head the government in September , having served as prime minister twice before. His appointment ended months of political paralysis, as the country struggled with a collapsing economy and nearly two years of protests demanding wholesale political reform. Lebanon had been without a government since Hassan Diab resigned after a massive blast destroyed Beirut port and the surrounding area in August Lebanon's broadcasting scene is developed, lively and diverse, and reflects the country's pluralism and divisions.
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