Lebanon-Syria Relations - Lebanese Civil War and The Syrian Occupation of Lebanon

Lebanese Civil War and The Syrian Occupation of Lebanon

According to historians William Cleveland and Martin Bunton, Beirut became an international banking center because of its “laissez-faire economic system”. Business owners from Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad moved to Beirut for economic opportunities. Despite Lebanon’s cultural liberalism and economic prosperity, sectarian tensions remained as citizens identified themselves through their sects. With Muslims calling for greater representation and with Cold War tensions, Lebanese leadership had to decide whether to ally with the West or with Egypt, Syria and its Arab history. Christians wanted to continue alliances with the West but Muslims were drawn to Nasser’s pan-Arabism. Multiple factors including sectarian tensions and Palestinian refugee settlement in southern Lebanon contributed to the beginnings of the Lebanese Civil War. In 1976, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad sent troops into Lebanon to fight PLO forces on behalf of Christian militias. This led to escalated fighting until a cease-fire agreement later that year that allowed for the stationing of Syrian troops within Lebanon. The Syrian presence in Lebanon quickly changed sides; soon after they entered Lebanon they had flip-flopped and began to fight the Christian nationalists in Lebanon they allegedly entered the country to protect. The Kateab Party and The Lebanese Forces under Bachir Gemayel strongly resisted the Syrians in Lebanon. Following the Israeli invasion into Lebanon in 1982, new Lebanese President Amin Gemayel sought the support of Syrian troops to stabilize the region. Syria fought Israeli troops after the latter's invasion of Lebanon.

In 1989, 40,000 Syrian troops remained in central and eastern Lebanon under the supervision of the Syrian government. The Taif Accord, established in the same year, called for the removal of Syrian troops and transfer of arms to the Lebanese army. Syrian troops would supervise this transfer and militias would also transfer their arms to the Lebanese army. General Michel Aoun, appointed as acting Prime Minister by Gemayon, sought independence from Syrian forces at all costs. Aoun led attacks against Syrian troops that resulted in heavy civilian casualties. While he was Maronite Christian, Aoun's expeditions led Christian militias to fight against Aoun’s troops. The fighting ended with Syrian troops' “all-out attack” on Aoun’s forces and bases. With the placement of a more pro-Syria leadership in the Lebanese government, Syrian troops began to follow the Taif Accord which called for an Arab Deterrent Force to maintain peace. However, Syrian troops made the majority of the Arab Deterrent Force and Lebanese citizens felt that their country had lost its sovereignty. Full withdrawal of Syrian troops though happened in 2005; Syrian President al-Assad had hoped to impose his power over Lebanon, Jordan, and the PLO. However, his involvement in the Lebanese Civil War carried a negative impact on his leadership; Syrian citizens questioned his decisions. According to Naomi Joy Winberger, “After years of intervention and subsequent occupation, Syria suffered reduced stature in each domain ”.