Israeli shelling on west Beirut in picture dated 02 August 1982. Tel Aviv military actions were a response to Palestinian attacks originating from Lebanese territory. AFP
Israeli shelling on west Beirut in picture dated 02 August 1982. Tel Aviv military actions were a response to Palestinian attacks originating from Lebanese territory. AFP

1975 - Lebanon’s civil war

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Updated 19 April 2025
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1975 - Lebanon’s civil war

1975 - Lebanon’s civil war
  • The conflict left scars that never healed, marking a bloody chapter in the country’s history that would be far from the last

LONDON: Even as the first edition of Arab News rolled off the presses on April 20, 50 years ago, it was already clear that 1975 was going to be a momentous year for news. 

Saudi Arabia was still recovering from the shock of the assassination the previous month of King Faisal, who on March 25 had been shot by an errant minor member of the royal family. 

Still to come that year lay other events of great import, among them the reopening on June 5 of the Suez Canal, eight years after it was closed by the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and the signing in Geneva on Sept. 4 of the Sinai Interim Agreement, under which Egypt and Israel committed to resolving their territorial differences by peaceful means. 

But it was the outbreak of civil war in Lebanon, one week before the launch of Arab News, that would dominate the news agenda not only for the remainder of 1975, but also for much of the following 15 years.

How we wrote it




Arab News’s front page covered the assassination of Bashir Gemayel and Israel’s invasion of West Beirut.

There is still no universal agreement about the precise order of the fateful events that unfolded in the Christian Ain El-Remmaneh district of East Beirut on April 13, 1975, but the bald facts are indisputable. 

On a day that came to be known as Black Sunday, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a Christian congregation gathered on the pavement outside the Church of Notre Dame de la Delivrance after a family baptism. 

Four men, including the father of the child, were killed. One of the survivors was Pierre Gemayal, the Maronite Catholic founder and leader of Lebanon’s right-wing Christian Kataeb (or Phalangist) Party, who was possibly the target of the attack. 

A terrible revenge was quickly exacted. Later that same day, a bus on which Palestinians were returning to a refugee camp from a political rally was ambushed by Phalangist gunmen who killed more than 20 of the passengers. 

In the words of Lebanese historian Fawwaz Traboulsi in his 2007 book “A History of Modern Lebanon,” “A war that was to last for 15 years had just begun.” 

Sectarian tensions had been rising in the country since the mass influx of Palestine Liberation Organization fighters to the south of the country in 1971 after their eviction from Jordan, but this was not the only cause of the civil war that erupted in April 1975. 

In truth, the long fuse that ignited the conflict in the former Ottoman region was lit more than half a century earlier by the imposition of the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, which was granted to France by the League of Nations after the First World War.

Key Dates

  • 1

    Civil war begins when Palestinian gunmen open fire on Maronite Christian Phalangists outside a church in East Beirut. Phalangists retaliate by ambushing busload of Palestinians.

  • 2

    Syrian troops enter Lebanon, ostensibly to protect Muslims from Christian forces.

    Timeline Image June 1976

  • 3

    US-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 425 calls on Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon and establishes peacekeeping UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

    Timeline Image March 19, 1978

  • 4

    Israeli army invades and reaches suburbs of Beirut. In August, a multinational force arrives to oversee evacuation of PLO.

    Timeline Image June 6, 1982

  • 5

    After international force withdraws, Israel invades again, entering Beirut. Israeli troops stand by as Christian militiamen massacre thousands of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

  • 6

    A series of suicide truck bombings results in withdrawal of multinational forces from Lebanon: 63 people are killed at the US embassy on April 18; on Oct. 23, 241 US Marines and 58 French soldiers die in separate attacks on their barracks.

    Timeline Image 1983

  • 7

    The Taif Agreement, negotiated in Saudi Arabia and approved by the Lebanese parliament the following month, officially ends the civil war, though Maronite military leader Michel Aoun denounces it and stages a revolt that continues for another year.

This framework, which gave Christians control of the government and parliament, was based on the results of a 1932 census. Over time, however, shifting demographics would undermine the credibility of this arrangement and its acceptability to certain groups who felt increasingly underrepresented. 

These demographic changes were accelerated dramatically by the fallout from the 1967 Six Day War between Arab states and Israel, during which large numbers of Palestinians took refuge in Jordan and, increasingly, southern Lebanon. 

These PLO fighters were welcomed as heroes by many of the tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the south of the country whose families had been forced to flee their homes during Israel’s occupation of Palestine in 1948. 

By the eve of the civil war, many other factors had conspired to push the country to the brink of conflict, including a socioeconomic crisis in which the cost-of-living was soaring even as wealth was becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of a privileged few political dynasties. 

In the three decades after gaining independence from France in 1943, Lebanon had enjoyed a golden age. Beneath the surface, however, tensions between Christian and Muslim communities were mounting, exacerbated by what Traboulsi described as “class, sectarian and regional inequalities.”

Just as Lebanon had avoided direct involvement in the Six Day War against Israel in 1967, it also kept out of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War — but once again could not escape the fallout.

By 1973, the Lebanese army had already clashed with the PLO, which was now firmly established in Lebanon, but the stark divisions in society really became apparent when demonstrations broke out in support of Egypt and Syria’s war on Israel. 

After it was fully unleashed on that fateful April day in 1975, the civil war escalated rapidly and brutally. In 1976 alone, Phalangist Christians killed hundreds of Palestinians in Karantina in northeastern Beirut. In retaliation, the PLO attacked Damour, a Maronite town south of Beirut, massacring hundreds of Christians. In response, Christian militias assaulted the Tel Al-Za’atar refugee camp, killing at least 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. 

As the civil war continued it drew in other forces, the presence of which only worsened an already complex situation: Syrian troops, the Israeli army, Israel-backed militias, a peacekeeping UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and joint US-French-Italian multinational forces. 

Massacres, bombings, assassinations and kidnappings became commonplace, and not without consequences. The 1983 bombings of the US embassy, a US Marines barracks and the headquarters of the French military contingent in Beirut led to the withdrawal of multinational forces. 




Beirut residents watch a controlled demolition during rebuilding efforts in the Lebanese capital, which is recovering from 16 years of civil strife. AFP

In the end, it fell to the Saudis to bring the various participants to the negotiating table. On Oct. 22, 1989, three weeks of talks in the Saudi city of Taif between Muslim and Christian members of the Lebanese parliament concluded with agreement on a national “reconciliation charter.” 

Inevitably, the conflict was not quite over. Maronite military leader Michel Aoun, whose appointment as prime minister of a military government the previous year had been widely contested, denounced those who signed the agreement as traitors. The fighting that ensued between Aoun’s forces and the Christian Lebanese Forces militia destroyed much of Christian East Beirut. 

Aoun’s revolt, and the civil war itself, ended on Oct. 13, 1990, when Syrian troops attacked the presidential palace in Baabda. Aoun fled and was granted political asylum in France. 

After 15 years and six months, the war was finally over. During that time, more than 150,000 people were killed, hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes, and an estimated 250,000 Lebanese emigrated. 

Another bloody chapter in the country’s troubled history had been written. It would be far from the last. 

  • Jonathan Gornall is a British journalist, formerly with The Times, who has lived and worked in the Middle East and is now based in the UK.


Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo attracts a million visitors

Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo attracts a million visitors
Updated 44 sec ago
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Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo attracts a million visitors

Saudi Pavilion at Osaka Expo attracts a million visitors
  • The full program of events for the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is available on the official website

The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has welcomed more than a million visitors since opening on April 13.

Designed by Foster + Partners, the pavilion, which the second largest after Japan, is a display of the Kingdom’s culture and heritage. It features more than 700 events, including live performances and dance shows.

The award-winning pavilion shares Saudi Arabia’s transformative journey under Vision 2030, highlighting the kingdom’s innovation and technological modernization. Additionally, the pavilion offers an exciting visitor journey by means of seven immersive rooms and galleries where guests can see up close the Kingdom’s global impact.

“We are honored to mark this significant milestone and the Saudi Arabia pavilion’s success in reaching one million visitors, which underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to showing its transformation under Vision 2030 and inviting the world to experience its heritage and foster cultural exchange,” said Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Japan and commissioner general of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion.

“As we move towards reaching the next million, the pavilion remains committed to inspiring visitors to learn about Saudi Arabia’s achievements, and we look forward to deepening impact and welcoming the world. Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka embodies our strong relationship with Japan, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.

“As we journey towards Expo 2030 in Riyadh, we will leave a legacy here in Osaka. Expo 2030 Riyadh will be a testament to Saudi Arabia’s transformation as a global destination — and we are eager to welcome the world to Saudi Arabia,” he added.

The full program of events for the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka is available on the official website.

This article also appears on Arab News Japan


Ukraine army chief vows to expand strikes on Russia

Updated 1 min 5 sec ago
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Ukraine army chief vows to expand strikes on Russia

Ukraine army chief vows to expand strikes on Russia
KYIV: Ukraine’s top military commander vowed to increase the “scale and depth” of strikes on Russia in remarks made public Sunday, saying Kyiv would not sit idly by while Moscow prolonged its three-year invasion.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled in recent weeks.
The last direct meeting between the two sides was almost three weeks ago and no follow-up talks have been scheduled.
Russian attacks on Ukraine have killed dozens of people during the interim, including in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to officials.
“We will not just sit in defense. Because this brings nothing and eventually leads to the fact that we still retreat, lose people and territories,” Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky told reporters including AFP.
Syrsky said Ukraine would continue its strikes on Russian military targets, which he said had proved “effective.”
“Of course, we will continue. We will increase the scale and depth,” he said.
Ukraine has launched retaliatory strikes on Russia throughout the war, targeting energy and military infrastructure sometimes hundreds of kilometers from the front line.
Kyiv says the strikes are a fair response to deadly Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians.


In wide-ranging remarks, Syrsky also conceded that Russia had some advantages in drone warfare, particularly in making fiber-optic drones that are tethered and difficult to jam.
“Here, unfortunately, they have an advantage in both the number and range of their use,” he said.
He also claimed that Ukraine still held 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) of territory in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv launched an audacious cross-border incursion last August.
“These are our pre-emptive actions in response to a possible enemy offensive,” he said.
Russia said in April that it had gained full control of the Kursk region and denies that Kyiv has a presence there.
Moscow occupies around a fifth of Ukraine and claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions as its own since launching its invasion in 2022 — in addition to Crimea, which it captured in 2014.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately sabotaging a peace deal to prolong its full-scale offensive on the country and to seize more territory.
The Russian army said Sunday that it had captured the village of Petrivske in Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region.
Russian forces also fired at least 47 drones and three missiles at Ukraine between late Saturday and early Sunday, the Ukrainian air force said.
At least two people were killed in the attacks on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, including a 17-year-old boy, the region’s governor said.

Air France eyes daily Paris-Riyadh flights amid soaring demand

Air France eyes daily Paris-Riyadh flights amid soaring demand
Updated 11 min 44 sec ago
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Air France eyes daily Paris-Riyadh flights amid soaring demand

Air France eyes daily Paris-Riyadh flights amid soaring demand

RIYADH: Air France is planning to operate daily flights between Paris and Riyadh, a senior airline official told Arab News in an exclusive interview.

The announcement follows the launch of the carrier’s first direct route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and King Khalid International Airport.

Stefan Gumuseli, the airline’s general manager for India and the Middle East, outlined the importance of the new route for the Air France-KLM Group and said it reflects the airline’s ambition to reestablish its presence in the Saudi market.

The decision comes in response to growing demand from travelers and investors eager to access the Kingdom’s expanding economic opportunities.

The new route marks a strategic step for Air France as it expands operations in the region and aligns with the growing connectivity between Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Talking to Arab News, Gumuseli said: “We’re starting with three weekly flights in mid-June, then gradually increasing to five. Our first major goal is to move to a daily service.”

He added that the market is not only outward-looking; the airline is also responding to rising inbound demand for Saudi Arabia, noting that it is experiencing almost exponential year-on-year growth.

Gumuseli also pointed to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which reflects a strong commitment to developing tourism, hospitality, and culture, supported by substantial ongoing investments. He said: “All these megaprojects are a clear sign that tourism is booming. We have a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia and are expanding our cooperation.”

His comments were echoed by Air France’s Senior Vice President for Benelux, Asia, India, the Middle East, and East Africa Bas Gerressen, who told Arab News: “Tourism is a very important factor, but we also need traffic, which has grown significantly over the past two years.

“The more connectivity there is between the two countries, the more economic exchange will flourish in both directions,” Gerressen added. 

Air France-KLM has entered into codeshare agreements to strengthen its network connectivity.

“We also place our code on these flights. So, when you consider all that connectivity from both sides, demand can only grow,” Gerressen said.

He added: “I believe Saudi Arabia has many premium travelers, and we need to reach them in specific markets. We already have strong demand across our business, premium and economy classes.”

At the same time, the airline is leveraging its distinctive French identity.

‘We position ourselves as a truly French brand — luxury, elegance, sophistication ... The French Touch. You can feel it the moment you board,” said Gerressen.

High-end products, gourmet in-flight dining, La Premiere lounges, and exclusive cabin experiences all reinforce this premium positioning. “We offer one of the best cabins in the region with our new first class, featuring a seat with five windows and just four seats in the entire cabin. It’s a revolution in the industry,” Gerressen added.

He emphasized the cabin crew’s vital role in shaping the passenger experience, highlighting their attentiveness and approachable demeanor.

As part of its sustainability strategy, Air France is adopting a comprehensive approach across its operations.

“Each new generation of aircraft reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 25 percent. Today, 28 percent of our fleet consists of these new aircraft, and our goal is to increase this figure to 80 percent by 2030,” Gerressen said. 

The airline is also the world’s leading buyer of sustainable aviation fuel. 

Gumuseli said: “We account for nearly 16 percent of global SAF usage, despite representing only 3 percent of total global kerosene consumption.”

Air France is investing in technology to enhance the passenger experience.

“We’ve decided to install high-speed Wi-Fi on board. In the event of a delay, passengers will receive updates about their connecting flights directly on their screens. With data and technology, we can truly personalize the service,” Gumuseli said.

“Our target customers include expatriates living in Saudi Arabia and tourists wishing to travel to Europe, North America, South America or Africa. Businesses are also a key audience, given the strong commercial ties between France and Saudi Arabia. We aim to serve all these segments,” said Gumuseli.

“Religious tourism should not be overlooked. Pilgrims can now combine Umrah with a more tourist-oriented experience,” he added.

Gerressen stressed the importance of the eVisa: “It is crucial. Simplifying the visa process will be essential in convincing more people to visit Saudi Arabia.”


Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent ‘irreparable abyss’

Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent ‘irreparable abyss’
Updated 10 min 26 sec ago
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Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent ‘irreparable abyss’

Pope Leo urges international diplomacy to prevent ‘irreparable abyss’

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo on Sunday said the international community must strive to avoid war that risks opening an “irreparable abyss,” and that diplomacy should take the place of conflict.
US forces struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites overnight, joining an Israeli assault in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself.
“Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss,” Pope Leo said during his weekly prayer with pilgrims.
“No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, the stolen future. Let diplomacy silence the weapons, let nations chart their future with peace efforts, not with violence and bloody conflicts,” he added.
“In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent,” Pope Leo said.


Cherry festival in northern Pakistan draws crowds amid growing exports to China

Cherry festival in northern Pakistan draws crowds amid growing exports to China
Updated 18 min 33 sec ago
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Cherry festival in northern Pakistan draws crowds amid growing exports to China

Cherry festival in northern Pakistan draws crowds amid growing exports to China
  • Gilgit-Baltistan, which produces 9,000 tons of cherries, exported over a quarter of the crop to China last year
  • Agricultural experts say the region’s cold climate is ideal for growing cherries, apricots and apples

SKARDU, Gilgit-Baltistan: As Pakistan begins to export cherries to neighboring China, a colorful one-day festival in Skardu this week drew hundreds of visitors, highlighting the potential of agri-tourism and cherry farming in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, officials and growers said.

Home to the Khunjerab Pass — the highest paved international border crossing in the world — GB is often described as Pakistan’s gateway to China.

The region’s cold climate is ideal for growing high-quality fruits such as cherries, apricots and apples.

“This is the 5th National Cherry Festival, and we are organizing Agri-Mela as part of the festival,” Zakir Hussain, deputy director at the GB agriculture department, told Arab News on Friday.

Visitors sample different verities of cherries displayed at a stall at the 5th National Cherry Festival in Skardu. Pakistan on June 20, 2025. (AN Photo)

 “The aim of this festival is to introduce cherry as a cash crop.”

He said the event, organized in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, aimed to raise awareness about harvesting, marketing and the economic importance of cherries.

According to the GB agriculture department, the region produces 8,000 to 9,000 tons of cherries annually, with dried cherry marketing now also underway.

“Almost 3,000 tons of cherries had been exported to China in 2024,” Hussain said, adding that GB was the leading cherry-producing region in Pakistan.

Local farmers say the festival boosts their income and visibility.

A cherry farmer displays his produce at the 5th National Cherry Festival in Skardu. Pakistan on June 20, 2025. (AN Photo)

“We have been growing cherries for the last 12 to 13 years and we have 200 to 300 cherry trees in our orchard,” said Skinder Ali, a 40-year-old farmer. “Whenever the festival is held in Gilgit-Baltistan, we participate. And due to this event, we get access to the market at the national level.”

The festival also attracted tourists from other parts of the country.

“We especially came to Skardu to see the cherries, and we are from Islamabad,” Zohra Begum, a 52-year-old visitor, said. “We have been visiting [the stalls] for the last hour... The taste of cherries is very good ... So far we have purchased 10 kilograms. Let’s see how much we purchase later.”

“I am a traveler and biker from Lahore,” said Mohsin Abbas, another tourist. “We were in Shigar last night when we came to know about the festival. So we came here... We have tasted the cherries and they are very delicious.”

Ghulamullah Saqib, an agriculture expert and trainer, said the region’s climate is well suited for cherries, which require 800 to 1,000 chilling hours to bear fruit.

“There are 14 varieties of cherry that are found in Gilgit-Baltistan,” he added.