List of attacks in Lebanon

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Post-Lahoud Term Extension

Starting in 2004, a series of bombings and assassinations struck Lebanon, most of them in and around the capital, Beirut. This wave of bombings began with the assassination attempt on Marwan Hamadeh, then heated up with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri on February 14, 2005, which touched off the Cedar Revolution and the withdrawal of Syrian troops. After the massive protests following Hariri's killing, several more bombings hit Lebanon.

These bombings and assassinations came after September 2004, when the Lebanese Parliament was pressured by Syria to extend the term of Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud through a constitutional amendment.^[1] The MPs, journalists, and activists that opposed this term extension were subject to slander, harassment and, in many cases, assassination attempts. Since 2013, most of the bombings were not related to the Cedar Revolution but rather a spillover of the Syrian civil war. This list is limited to bombings and assassinations ; it does not include other form of attacks.

2004

Marwan Hamadeh assassination attempt

On October 1, 2004, a car bomb exploded next to the motorcade carrying Druze MP Marwan Hamadeh. Hamadeh was injured, but survived; his driver was killed. Hamadeh was a critic of Syria and a member of the opposition to President Émile Lahoud.

2005

Rafiq Hariri assassination

A massive explosion on February 14, 2005, killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Beirut, near the St. George Hotel. Also killed was the former Minister of the Economy, Bassel Fleihan, and 19 other people. About 220 others were wounded.

A group calling of "Al Nusra and Jihad in greater Syria" claimed responsibility for the blast.^[2]

According to the United Nations report by Detlev Mehlis,^[3] released October 20, 2005, the blast was the result of a truck bomb. A security camera captured a white Mitsubishi truck driving near Hariri's convoy moments before the blast; investigators determined this truck carried the explosives, estimated at 1,000 kg. Since Hariri's convoy had jamming devices meant to block remote control signals, the attack was carried out using a suicide bomber. The report cited a witness who said the bomber was an Iraqi who was led to believe his target was Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who had been in Beirut just days before.

The report concluded that top Syrian and Lebanese officials planned the assassination beginning in mid-2004.

New Jdeideh bombing

A car bomb exploded in the New Jdeideh suburb of Beirut on March 19, 2005. The blast happened in a part-commercial, part-residential area, and wounded eleven people. Reports said that the driver had tried to park it in front of a bingo hall, and was turned away, so he parked it next to an apartment.^[4]

Kaslik bombing

On March 23 a bomb left in a leather bag exploded at the back entrance of the Kaslik shopping center in Jounieh. Two Indian and one Pakistan janitor were killed, and two Sri Lankans and two Lebanese injured. The roof of the mall collapsed.^[5]

Sad el-Bouchrieh bombing

On March 26, a car bomb parked between two factories exploded in the Sad el-Bouchrieh area of Beirut, wounding six people. It caused a blaze which destroyed several workshops.^[6]

Broummana bombing

On April 1, a bomb ripped through the Rizk plaza in the Broummana resort village, 20 km (12 mi) east of Beirut. Twelve people were injured.^[7]

Jounieh bombing

On May 7, a car bomb exploded between the Christian Sawt al Mahaba radio station and the Mar Yuhanna Church in Jounieh. The radio station was destroyed and the church suffered major damage. Twenty-two people were wounded.^[8]

Samir Kassir assassination

Anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir was assassinated on June 2 when a bomb detonated in his car outside his home in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district, a largely Christian residential area. Kassir was a front-page columnist for the al-Nahar newspaper, where he wrote columns criticizing the pro-Syrian government.

George Hawi assassination

George Hawi, former Lebanese Communist Party leader and a critic of Syria, died when his car exploded as he was driving through Beirut's Wata Musaitbi district on June 21.

Elias Murr assassination attempt

A car bomb wounded the outgoing Lebanese defense minister, Elias Murr, as his motorcade drove through Beirut's Christian suburb of Antelias on July 12. Two people were killed and injuring 12 others. This attack was unique in the series of bombings in that Murr was considered a pro-Syrian figure.^[9]

Monot bombing

On July 22, a bomb exploded in a car parked in front of a restaurant on Monot Street in Beirut, wounding twelve people. The bomb was estimated to be 50 lb.^[10]

Zalka bombing

In the mostly Christian neighborhood of Zalka, on August 22, a bomb placed between a shopping center and a hotel damaged shops and windows, wounding eight people. It consisted of 20 to 30 kg of TNT and was set on a timer.^[11]

Jeitawi bombing

An explosion, believed caused by a car bomb, rocked the largely Christian area of Ashrafieh on September 17. One person was killed and 23 injured. Two cars were blown up and buildings near the blast were severely damaged.^[12]

May Chidiac assassination attempt

Christian journalist and critic of Syria May Chidiac was seriously injured when a bomb exploded as she got into her car in Jounieh on September 25. She lost her left leg and arm. Chidiac was an anchor on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation.

Gebran Tueni assassination

A prominent anti-Syrian journalist and lawmaker, Gebran Tueni, was killed by a car bomb on 12 December 2005. He had returned from France only a day earlier, where he had been staying for fear of assassination. Two other people were killed—his driver and a passerby—when a car bomb exploded as his motorcade drove through Mkalles, an industrial suburb of Beirut. Another 30 people were wounded in the bombing, and at least 10 vehicles were destroyed.^[13]

On 28 December 2005 Lebanese newspaper An Nahar reported that it had received a statement signed by "The Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom in al Sham," the group that claimed responsibility for the death of its former editor Gebran Tueni with a car bomb on 12 December 2005. The statement said outgoing UNIIIC chairman Mehlis was lucky to escape death and threatened any new chairman with assassination if he too implicated Syria.^[14]

2006

Mahmoud al Majzoub

25 May 2006 a bomb killed the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Mahmoud al Majzoub in Sidon, south of Lebanon.^[15]

Pierre Amine Gemayel

Pierre Amine Gemayel, anti-Syrian MP, son of Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel, nephew of assassinated President Bashir Gemayyel, and Minister of Industry at the time was shot dead in Beirut on 21 November 2006.

2007

Bikfaya Bombing

13 Feb 2007, a bomb on a bus near Bikfaya killed 3 people and wounded 21 others.^[16]

ABC Bombing

20 May 2007, explosives placed near the ABC mall in Achrafieh killed 1 civilian and wounded 18 others.^[17]

Verdun Bombing

21 May 2007, an explosion in the high class Beirut district of Verdun wounded 10 people including 2 children.^[18]

Aley

23 May 2007, an explosion in the town of Aley wounded 5 people.^[19]

Walid Eido

Walid Eido, another anti-Syrian MP, was killed by a car bomb on 13 June 2007, along with eight others, including his eldest son Khaled Eido.

Antoine Ghanem assassination

Anti-Syrian Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem and four others were killed in a car bomb attack in a Christian suburb of Beirut on September 19, 2007.

Francois Elias Hajj assassination

Brigadier General François al-Hajj from the village of Rmaich was killed in a car bomb attack in Baabda, along with three other people, on December 12, 2007.

2008

US Diplomat Bombing

15 Jan 2008, a bombing targeted a US diplomatic vehicle killing 4 Lebanese civilians and wounding 16 others.^[16]

Wissam Eid assassination

Capt. Wissam Eid, Lebanese Internal Security Forces senior terrorism investigator was assassinated on January 25, 2008. At the time of assassination, Eid was also Top Lebanese Investigator into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

Tripoli bombing

On August 13, 2008, sixteen people, including seven Lebanese soldiers, were killed by a bomb targeting a civilian bus in Tripoli.^[20]

Saleh Aridi assassination

A pro-Syrian Druze politician of the Lebanese Democratic Party, Saleh Aridi, was killed in a car bomb on September 10, 2008.^[21]

Second Tripoli bombing

On September 29, 2008, five soldiers were killed, and 35 were injured, by a car bomb which destroyed a bus in Tripoli.^[22][23]

2012

Wissam al Hassan Assassination

19 October 2012, head of the intelligence branch of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan was killed in a massive car bomb in Achrafieh, 128 were injured and 3 others died.

2013

Beir el-Abed Bombing

9 July 2013, a car bomb exploded in the district of Beir el-Abed that lies in southern Beirut. Approximately 50 people were wounded in the attack. The attack took place in an popular Beirut street commonly associated with Hizbollah, and the bombing is widely believed to be in retaliation to Hizbollah's involvement in the Syrian Civil War.

Roueiss Bombing

15 August 2013, 27 people were killed and over 300 injured in an attack that targeted the Roueiss neighbourhood in south Beirut. The attack is believed to have been carried out through a car bomb. Similar to the Beir el-Abed bombing, this attack targeted a Hizbollah stronghold.

Tripoli's Dual Bombings

23 August 2013, Bombs hit two mosques killing at least 42 people and wounding hundreds. The first explosion hit the Taqwa mosque, and killed at least 14 people there. Further deaths were reported from a second blast a few minutes later outside the al-Salam mosque, which the Interior Ministry said was hit by a car laden with 100 kg (220 pounds) of explosives.

Beir Hassan Bombing

19 November 2013, a large explosion near an Iranian cultural centre in the southern suburbs of Beirut have killed at least 22 people and 146 people wounded in a double bomb attack. The explosion appeared to have been caused by a car bomb and a motorcycle laden with explosives.

Hassan Lakkis assassination

3 December 2013, a senior Hezbollah commander named Hassan Lakkis was assassinated by 2 gunmen in Beirut.^[24]

Downtown Beirut Bombing

27 December 2013, 5 people along with Former Minister Mohamad Chatah, member of the Future Movement, were killed in a car bomb that targeted the later's vehicle. Approximately 70 people were wounded in the attack.

2014

1st Haret Hreik Bombing

2 January 2014, the blast was detonated in front of the political office of Hizbollah, four people were killed and 77 others were wounded. Several buildings were damaged and flames engulfed vehicles parked on Al-Arid Street, where the explosives-rigged vehicle had been parked.

1st Hermel Bombing

16 January 2014, A suspected suicide car bombing killed five people and wounded 42 others in a bustling neighborhood in the northeastern town of Hermel.

2nd Haret Hreik Bombing

21 January 2014, a suspected suicide bombing killed at least four people including a teenage girl and wounded 46 others. The explosion on the bustling Al-Arid Street in Haret Hreik occurred around 11 a.m. just meters from the site of the explosion that occurred earlier in the month.

2nd Hermel Bombing

1 February 2014, another terrorist explosion targeted the eastern city of Hermel, killing four and injuring 23 civilians in an attack that was claimed by an Al-Qaeda-linked group. The suicide bomber drove his vehicle – a Grand Cherokee Jeep – up to a petrol station in the Zahraa area of the city where he then proceeded to detonate it.^[25]

Van bombing

3 February 2014, a suicide bombing injured 2 people south of Beirut.^[26]

Iranian cultural center

19 February 2014, two suicide bombings killed 8 people and wounded 128 others near the Iranian cultural center in Beirut.^[27]

3rd Hermel Bombing

22 February 2014, a suicide car bombing targeting an Army post in the northeastern town of Hermel killed three people including two soldiers and wounded 17 others. The Lebanon branch of the Nusra Front, a radical Syrian rebel force, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, saying it was part of a “series of vengeful attacks. ”^[28]

Arsal Bombing

29 March 2014, a suicide car bomb killed 3 Lebanese soldiers and wounded 4 others in the northeastern town of Arsal.^[29]

Dahr al Baidar Bombing

20 June 2014, a suicide bomber killed a police officer and wounded 32 people at a checkpoint in east Lebanon.^[30]

Beirut Cafe Bombing

24 June 2014, a suicide bomber driving an old Mercedes wounded 12 people near a cafe and a military checkpoint in Beirut.^[31]

Hotel Bombing

27 June 2014, a suicide bomber wounded 11 people in a Beirut hotel. Security forces attempted to arrest him before the explosion.^[32]

Tripoli Bomb

6 August 2014, a homemade bomb killed 1 civilian and wounded 10 others near an army checkpoint in Tripoli.^[33]

2nd Arsal Bombing

19 September 2014, a bomb killed 2 Lebanese soldiers and wounded 3 others in Arsal.^[34]

Hezbollah bombing

20 September 2014, a bombing targeted a Hezbollah checkpoint in eastern Lebanon. The number of casualties is disputed.^[35]

3rd Arsal bombing

14 November 2014, a bomb wounded 3 soldiers in Arsal.^[36]

4th Arsal bombing

3 December 2014, a soldier was killed and two others wounded by a bomb in Arsal.^[37]

2015

Jabal Mohsen cafe

10 January 2015, a double suicide bombing in Tripoli killed 9 people and injured at least 30 others. ^[38]

Ghassan Ajaj

26 January 2015, an intelligence officer was assassinated by a gunman in northern Lebanon.^[39]

Bader Eid

2 March 2015, the brother of the Alawite leader Ali Eid was assassinated in northern Lebanon.^[40]

Pre-Lahoud Term Extension

All the assassinations and bombings listed above occurred in the aftermath of the forced term extension of the pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud in September 2004. The events listed below had nothing to do with the extension of Emile Lahoud's Presidential term, and most of them occurred long before.

1951

• 1951, July 17 - Several months after leaving office, Lebanon's first post-independence Prime Minister Riad al-Solh was assassinated in Amman, Jordan by a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party.

1975

• 1975, March 6 - The Sunni politician and Sidon leader Maarouf Saad died. He was shot down on February 26, 1975 during a demonstration in Sidon. His death is considered to be a partial trigger for the start of the civil war.

1977

• 1977, March 16 - Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt killed close to his home in the Chouf area. Though it has not been proved in court, the assassination is largely blamed on Syria.

1978

• 1978, June 13 - Tony Franjieh, son of former president Suleiman Franjieh killed in his own house by militiamen of the Lebanese Kataeb party. This incident is known as Ehden massacre.

1982

• 1982, September 14 - President-elect Bashir Gemayel killed by Habib Shartouni, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. His brother Amin Gemayel became president of Lebanon instead.

1983

• 1983, April 18 - The American Embassy in Beirut was bombed. 63 people, including 17 Americans lost their lives in this attack.

• 1983, October 23- The Beirut barracks bombing killed more than 200 American and French armed forces personnel.

1985

• 1985, March 8- More than 60 were killed and 200 injured in a blast in Beirut.^[41]

1987

• 1987, June 1 - Prime Minister Rashid Karami killed by bomb during a helicopter flight.

1989

• 1989, May 16 - Head of Sunni community in Lebanon, Mufti Sheikh Hassan Khaled killed by car bomb in Beirut. The assassination is largely blamed on Syria.

• 1989, November 22 - President René Mouawad, the second President of Lebanon to be killed by Syria was killed by a car bomb, three weeks after becoming president.

1990

• 1990, October 21 - Leader of the National Liberal Party Dany Chamoun shot dead in suburb of Beirut.

1992

• 1992, February 16 - Leader of Hezbollah Abbas al-Musawi killed by Israel in Jibsheet, a town in southern Lebanon.

2002

• 2002, January 24 - Former Lebanese Forces intelligence officer, Syrian ally, former Lebanese government minister and member of parliament, and one of the planners of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, Elie Hobeika was assassinated by a car bombing in the Beirut suburb of Hazmieh.

See also

• Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon
• Timeline of violent events relating to the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon (2011–14)
• Timeline of violent events relating to the Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon (2014–present)

References