Beirut

On August 4, 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, exploded, causing at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. This tragic event highlighted significant issues of government negligence and corruption, leading to widespread protests and political repercussions. It was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded.

Beginning on October 17, 2019, protests erupted across Lebanon in response to proposed tax increases and systemic government corruption. These protests, which became known as the October Revolution, were notable for their cross-sectarian unity, with Lebanese citizens from different backgrounds coming together to demand accountability and reform. Despite some concessions, the protests continued into 2020, emblematic of the widespread dissatisfaction with the Lebanese political system.

The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the July War, was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel, and the Golan Heights. The principal parties were Hezbollah paramilitary forces and the Israeli military. The conflict started on July 12, 2006, following a Hezbollah operation against IDF soldiers. The war caused significant damage and loss of life, resulting in around 1,200 Lebanese and 165 Israelis dead. It ended with a United Nations-brokered ceasefire on August 14, 2006.

On February 14, 2005, Rafic Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in a massive car bomb explosion in Beirut. The attack also killed 22 others and wounded many more, leaving a significant impact on Lebanese politics and leading to the Cedar Revolution, which ended the Syrian military presence in Lebanon. This assassination led to international pressure to investigate the attack, culminating in the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

On October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, housing American and French service members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon, a peacekeeping operation during the Lebanese Civil War. The attack killed 307 people, including 241 U.S. peacekeepers and 58 French soldiers. The attacks were claimed by various Islamist militant groups and accelerated the withdrawal of international peacekeeping forces from Lebanon, impacting the international perception of peacekeeping missions.

The Sabra and Shatila massacre occurred from September 16 to 18, 1982, during the Lebanese Civil War, in the Sabra neighborhood and the adjacent Shatila refugee camp in Beirut. It was perpetrated by a Lebanese Christian militia group known as the Phalangists, with the tacit approval of the Israeli Defense Forces. Over the course of two days, men, women, and children were killed, with estimates varying widely, but with hundreds to thousands of victims. This event drew international condemnation and outrage.

The 1982 Lebanon War, also known as the First Lebanon War, began on June 6, 1982, when Israel invaded southern Lebanon. The operation was intended to expel the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Lebanon and eliminate Syrian influence. The conflict led to a prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, with fighting continuing through to the 1985 South Lebanon conflict. The war impacted Lebanese civilians significantly and reshaped the political landscape of the region.

The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon, lasting from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities. The conflict began with a series of clashes and assassinations, starting on April 13, 1975, in Beirut. Over time, it involved many factions, including the country's Christian and Muslim communities, various sects, and external powers. The war caused mass displacement, with millions becoming displaced within Lebanon and fleeing to other countries.

The 1958 Lebanon crisis was a political crisis in Lebanon caused by political and religious tensions in the country, which included a U.S. military intervention. It was part of the broader Arab Cold War, and tensions were inflamed by a series of murders and the political machinations of Lebanese factions and external powers. U.S. President Eisenhower authorized Operation Blue Bat, deploying American troops to stabilise the country, which succeeded in preventing a civil war.

On August 31, 1920, the state of Greater Lebanon was formally established following the end of Ottoman control, and under French mandate as part of the League of Nations. The new state included more than just the Beirut area, incorporating regions such as the Bekaa Valley and the coastal region up to Tripoli. The formation has had lasting implications for Lebanese politics, demographics, and its national identity, setting the stage for future tensions and conflicts.