Lebanon bombings and assassinations (2004–present)

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

These bombings and assassinations came after September 2004, when the Lebanese Parliament was forced to extend the term of pro-Syrian former president Emile Lahoud, a move that was unconstitutional. The MPs, journalists, and activists that opposed this term extension were then subject to a series of slander campaigns and eventually assassination attempts.

2004

Marwan Hamadeh assassination attempt

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

2005

Rafiq Hariri assassination

Ministry of the Interior soldier guarding the site of the attack that killed former Prime Minister Hariri

A massive explosion on 14 February 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 itself "The Nasra & Jihad Group in Greater Syria" claimed responsibility for the blast. The group had not been heard from before. A tape aired by Al Jazeera showed a bearded man, believed to be a Palestinian named Ahmad Abu Adas, claiming the attack. Adas' apartment was raided but he remains missing; however, it is now thought he was forced to admit to the plot and was killed by those who planned the assassination.[1][2]

According to the United Nations report by Detlev Mehlis,[2] released 20 October 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 19 March 2005. The blast happened in a part-commercial, part-residential area, and wounded eleven people. Reports said that the driver had tried to park in front of a bingo hall, and was turned away and parked next to an apartment building instead.[3]

Kaslik bombing

On 23 March, a bomb left in a leather bag exploded at the back entrance of the Kaslik shopping center in Jounieh. Three janitors, two Indians and a Pakistani, were killed, and two Sri Lankans and two Lebanese were injured. The roof of the mall collapsed.[4]

Ali Ramez Tohme assassination attempt

The car of Ali Ramez Tohme, a journalist and president of the Dar al-Haitham for Journalism, Printing and Press, was bombed early on 15 September in the area of Mazboud. Tohme escaped the assassination attempt. There was speculation that the attack was motivated by an article written by Tohme defending Rafiq Hariri or his book on Hariri.

Sad el Bouchrieh bombing

On 26 March, a car loaded with explosives and parked between two factories exploded in the Sad el Bouchrieh area of Beirut, wounding six people. It caused a blaze which destroyed several workshops.[5]

Broummana bombing

On 1 April, a bomb ripped through the Rizk plaza in the Broummana resort village, 20 km (12 mi) east of Beirut. Twelve people were injured.[6]

Jounieh bomb aftermath

Jounieh bombing

On 7 May, 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.[7]

Samir Kassir assassination

Anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir was assassinated on 2 June 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 An Nahar newspaper, where he wrote columns criticizing the pro-Syrian government.[8]

George Hawi assassination

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

Elias Murr assassination attempt

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

Monot bombing

On 22 July, 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 22 August, 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 17 September. 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 25 September. She lost her left leg and arm. Chidiac was a news anchor at 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. 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 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 Gibran Tueni with a car bomb on 12 December. 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

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

Walid Eido

Walid Eido, another anti-Syrian MP, was killed by a car bomb on 13 June 2007 in Beirut, 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 19 September 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 12 December 2007.[15]

2008

Wissam Eid assassination

Capt. Wissam Eid who was a computer engineer and a senior terrorism investigator at the Lebanese Internal Security Forces was assassinated on 25 January 2008. At the time of assassination, Eid was also top Lebanese investigator into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.[16] More specifically, he was analysing the telephone intercepts concerning the assassination when he was killed.[17]

Tripoli bombing

On 13 August 2008, sixteen people, including seven Lebanese soldiers, were killed by a bomb targeting a civilian bus in Tripoli.[18]

Saleh Aridi assassination

A pro-Syrian Druze politician of the Lebanese Democratic Party, Saleh Aridi, was killed in a car bomb on 10 September 2008.[19]

Second Tripoli bombing

On 29 September 2008, five people, including five soldiers, were killed, and 35 were injured, by a car bomb which destroyed a bus in Tripoli.[20]

2009

Kamal Naji assassination

Kamal Naji, also known as Kamal Medhat, was the deputy representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in Lebanon and a former Fatah intelligence chief in the country. He was killed by a roadside bomb while visiting a refugee camp to calm recent violence.[21]

2012

General Wissam al-Hassan assassination

Wissam al-Hassan, was assassinated on 19 October 2012 in a car bomb that was located in Achrafieh district of Beirut. He was killed along with two citizens, while a hundred and twenty others were injured. Wissam al-Hassan was the head of the information branch of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces and one of the country's key security officials. His death comes a few months after he investigated ex-Information Minister Michel Samaha, who was charged with smuggling bombs from Syria with the help of Syrian Security Chief Ali Mamlouk, in order to launch a series of terrorist attacks in Lebanon.

2013

Bir El Abed bombing

On 9 July 2013, 53 people were injured, by a car bomb in Bir El Abed neighborhood Beirut. The blast erupted in a parking lot near the Islamic Cooperation Centre.

Mohamad Chatah assassination

27 Dec 2013: Mohamad Chatah, a former Finance Minister of Lebanon was killed in a car bombing in Beirut. Seven others were also killed.[22]

Al-Salam and Al-Taqwa Mosques, Tripoli bombing

On 23 August 2013, over 400 people were injured by 2 car bombs planted in front of the Mosques, 62 people were murdered, the bombs targeted the 2 Imams of the Mosques, the Former General Director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces, Ashraf Rifi,Sheikh Bilal Baroudi in the second bombing, and Sheikh Salem Al Raf'i in the first bombing, The First Car bomb exploded in the Bab- Al Tebbane area which targeted Al Taqwa mosque, The Second Car exploded 10 mins later in Al- Mina which targeted Al Salam mosque, and General Rifi.

The Leader of the Alawite Community in Tripoli Ali Eid, was blamed for the bombing, due to the fact that the men who were driving the cars, were from Jabal Mohsen where most of the Alawites in Tripoli live in, and that Ali Eid claims that all Jabal Mohsen and Alawites in Tripoli are protected by the Arab Democratic Party, which is led by Ali Eid and his son Ref'at Eid

2015

On November 12, 2 bombings took place in the Southern suburb of Beirut killing more than 45 people.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brian Whitaker (22 June 2005). "Beirut murder mystery". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "REPORT". UN. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Car bomb rocks Beirut". The Guardian. 19 March 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Lebanon's leading news destination". Naharnet. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Bomb hits Beirut's Christian area". BBC News. 27 March 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Bomb Damages Christian Town Near Beirut". The Washington Post. 2 April 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Farid Emile Chedid. "Lebanonwire, Live News Direct From Beirut, Lebanon". Lebanonwire. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Hundreds mourn Beirut journalist". BBC. 4 June 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Dameli, Mark (12 July 2012). "President Lahoud's Son-in-Law Elias Murr Survives Assassination Ambush". Indy Media. Beirut. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Brent Sadler (22 July 2005). "Explosion hits Beirut". CNN. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Farid Emile Chedid. "Lebanonwire, Live News Direct From Beirut, Lebanon". Lebanonwire. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Powerful Bomb Rocks Ashrafiyeh's Jeitawi Neighborhood, 1 Dead, 25 Injured". Newsgroups.derkeiler. 17 September 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Security Council receives Mehlis report; Annan condemns new assassination in Lebanon". UN. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  14. ↑ "Syria denies involvement in recent hit". The Jerusalem Post. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "François al-Hajj assassinated". NOW Lebanon. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Rabah, Makram (22 October 2012). "The Lebanese powder keg". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  17. ↑ Michael Young (13 April 2010). The Ghosts of Martyrs Square: An Eyewitness Account of Lebanon's Life Struggle. Simon and Schuster. p. 11. ISBN 978-1-4391-0945-8. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Lebanon bomb kills 16, including 7 soldiers"
  19. ↑ "Lebanon opposition member Saleh Aridi killed in car bomb blast". The Australian. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  20. ↑ Wander, Andrew (29 September 2008). "Lebanon: Bus bomb kills soldiers in Tripoli". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  21. ↑ Lebanon blast 'kills PLO leader' Al Jazeera. 24 March 2009.
  22. ↑ "Beirut bombing death toll rises to eight". The Daily Star. 29 December 2013.
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