Syrian occupation of Lebanon

The Syrian occupation of Lebanon or Syrian presence in Lebanon began in 1976 as a result of a Lebanese government invitation during Lebanon's civil war, and ended in April 2005 in response to domestic and international pressure after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.

In early 1976, the Lebanese civil war was going poorly for the Maronite Christians, and Syria sent 40,000 troops into the country to prevent them from being overrun. In the same year, the Palestinian militia committed the Damour massacre. By 1978, many of the Maronites had become convinced that the Syrians were really occupying Lebanon for reasons of their own; and by September of that year, Maronites and the Syrian government were openly feuding. Some suspected that Syrian officials viewed Lebanon as righful Syrian territory.

Syrian forces remained in Lebanon, effectively dominating its government, until the Cedar Revolution took place in early 2005, which was recieved with much international support. The Cedar Revolution was primarily sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005. Accusations of responsibility were particularly directed at Syria because of its extensive military and intelligence presence in Lebanon. The public rift between Hariri and Damascus (over the extension of (pro-Syrian) President Lahoud's term) only strengthened these accusations. Other people have blamed local gangsters for the attack, whilst a small minority pointed the finger at Israel. Both Syria and Israel denied any involvement.

Anti-Syrian protests by Lebanese citizens in Beirut grew fast and strong, demanding the immediate resignation of the pro-Syrian government. In response, Hezbollah organized a large counter-demonstration, staged on March 8 in Beirut, supporting Syria and accusing Israel and the United States of meddling in internal Lebanese affairs. On March 14, one month after Hariri's assassination, approximately 800 thousand rallied in Martyrs' Square, in the largest gathering to date. Protestors of all sects (even including a number of Shiites) marched together, demanding the truth of Hariri's murder and "independence from Syrian occupation". The march reiterated their will for a sovereign, democratic, and unified country, free of Syria's hegemony. International pressure also continued to mount, and by the 26th of April, 2005, Syrian troops had completely pulled out of Lebanon.

Thus far, no person or party has been directly accused of the murder of Rafik Hariri. Though the UN's FitzGerald Report (issued 24 March 2005) contains a testimony by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt alleging that a shaken Hariri had told him months before that he was personally threatened by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a 15-minute meeting in the Syrian capital Damascus in August 2004: "Lahoud [President of Lebanon] is me. ... If you and Chirac want me out of Lebanon, I will break Lebanon." Jumblatt said "When I heard him telling us those words, I knew that it was his condemnation of death." This testimony has not been officially confirmed; and the UN's FitzGerald Report has called for a further, much more extensive international inquiry. This has been seconded by the UN Secretary General and agreed to by the Lebanese government, but with stipulations about respect for Lebanese sovereignty and the participation (not supremacy) of Lebanese agencies.

There are several pro-Syrian Lebanese Shi'a, such as Hassan Nasrallah, that did not view Syrian presence as an occupation, and actually thanked the Syrians for what they viewed as protection. Supporters of the Syrian government contend that the Syrian presence and the so-called Pax Syriana stabilized the country, and a senior American State Department official testified before Congress that the U.S. government considered Damascus to be a "helpful player" in Lebanon. [1]

Most critics contend that while the Syrian presence may have been helpful at first, the 29-year length of it was detrimental and Syria's withdrawal was long overdue.

Although the military had officially withdrawn by the end of April 2005, some have suggested that Syria still has a large network of agents and collaborators in Lebanon, who influence Lebanese politics and maintain Syrian hegemony. Some have claimed that Hezbollah is one of these collaborators.

Syrian occupation of Lebanon

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