What Was the Lebanese Civil War?

The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) stands as one of the most complex and devastating conflicts of the modern era, driven by deep-rooted sectarian tensions, political power struggles, and major foreign interventions. This video explores the origins of the conflict, from Lebanon’s colonial past and demographic imbalances to the fragile National Pact power-sharing system. As the country’s Muslim population grew and Palestinian refugees poured in following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and later the expulsion of the PLO from Jordan, internal divisions deepened. By 1975, religious militias, economic disparity, and competing ideological movements exploded into a full-scale civil war.

The video also examines how the conflict evolved into a regional crisis, with direct interventions by Syria, Israel, and Iran, and the emergence of Hezbollah. We delve into major turning points such as the Israeli invasion of 1982, the Sabra and Shatila massacre, and the Taif Agreement of 1989 that ended the war but entrenched sectarianism. Despite post-war reconstruction, Lebanon remains plagued by unresolved grievances, weak institutions, and ongoing external interference. With keywords including Middle East conflict, sectarianism, civil war, Hezbollah, and peacebuilding, this documentary provides essential context for understanding one of the most pivotal and enduring crises in international relations.

VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:41 Complex Civil Wars and Lebanon
01:13 Lebanon: Location and Population
01:57 A Brief History of Lebanon
02:38 The Emergence of Political Tensions in Lebanon
04:52 The Start of the Lebanese Civil War
06:30 Foreign Intervention in the Lebanese Civil War
08:26 The End of the Lebanese Civil War
10:04 Lebanon Since the Civil War
11:21 The Impact of the Lebanese Civil War

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