Lebanon Thirty Years' War and Peace

Post 1948 Major influx of Palestinian refugees builds tensions between Christian Maronites and Muslim Shias. Yasser Arafat establishes PLO stronghold in Lebanon.

1975 13 April Civil war starts.

1978 14/15 March Israel invades and occupies south Lebanon but UN forces it out.

1982 6 June Israel launches second invasion after assassination attempt on Shlomo Argov, its ambassador to the UK.

1982 14 September Israel occupies west Beirut following assassination of the president-elect, Bashir Gemayel. Hundreds of Palestinian refugees in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps are murdered.

1983 17 May Israel and Lebanon agree on Israeli withdrawal, with a security buffer in south Lebanon.

1983 23 October Bombs kill 241 US Marines and 56 French paratroopers, right. Militant Shia groups claim responsibility.

1987 1 June Prime Minister Rashid Karami killed. Salim Hoss becomes PM.

1988 22 September Lebanon has two governments. East Beirut goes to the Christians under General Michel Aoun.

1989 14 March Aoun declares war onSyrian forces.

1989 22 October Taif agreement signed.

1989 22 November Prospective president Rene Moawad assasinated.

1990 13 October Civil war ends as Aoun flees.

1992 31 October Rafik Hariri becomes PM.

1998 24 November The army chief, Emile Lahoud, becomes President.

2000 24 May Israel moves troops out of south Lebanon.

2000 October Hariri becomes Prime Minister for the second time.

2004 September UN Security Council resolution 1559 demands that foreign soldiers leave Lebanon.

2004 September Hariri stands down as PM having opposed the extension of Lahoud's term.

2005 14 February Hariri killed in a car bomb attack.