President-elect Bashir Gemayel assassinated

The Arab League announced that the PLO had decided to remove its armed forces from Beirut subject to arrangements and safeguards for departure and civilian protection. The decision followed a...

The Security Council authorized deployment of UN observers to monitor the situation in and around Beirut as the siege continued. Observation was distinct from a combat mission and did not by itself...

A ceasefire came into effect on 12 August after intense fighting and bombardment. The agreement helped set the stage for negotiated departure of Palestinian armed personnel, but did not settle...

The withdrawal of Palestinian fighters from Beirut began under a negotiated arrangement overseen by a multinational force. From the perspective of the PLO, the evacuation preserved its leadership...

The evacuation of Palestinian armed personnel from the Beirut area was completed by 1 September. PLO leadership and fighters were dispersed to other countries; Palestinian civilians remaining in...

Israeli forces moved into West Beirut after Gemayel’s assassination, despite the ceasefire framework. Armed resistance to their advance was reported in the Israeli Kahan Commission record. The...

Between 16 and 18 September Lebanese Forces/Phalangist militiamen massacred Palestinian and Lebanese civilians in the Sabra and Shatila area. Israeli forces controlled surrounding areas and...

George Hawi and Mohsen Ibrahim announced a cross-sectarian resistance front against the Israeli occupation. Communist and other secular activists organised underground cells. The front challenged...

UN Security Council Resolution 520 condemned Israeli incursions into Beirut, demanded a return to positions held before 15 September and reaffirmed Lebanese sovereignty. It was an international...

UN observers entering the area found groups of bodies of civilians and reported evidence of a massacre. Their observations became an important contemporaneous record of atrocities and contributed to...