Lebanon hosts the second-highest per capita number of refugees in the world, and the second-highest total number of Syrian refugees in the world. There are approximately 1. There are also approximately , longstanding Palestinian refugees registered with the United Nations, and approximately 18, Iraqi and other refugees residing in Lebanon. Since the start of the Syria crisis, U. Lebanon has historically been a free-market economy with a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition.
Since the fall of , however, Lebanon has been mired in an economic and financial crisis from which it has yet to recover. As of August , the government has yet to implement economic reforms necessary to reduce overall debt and put the country on a sound economic footing.
In , major U. The U. This appeared to mark the manifestation of Saudi foreign policy objectives through coercion — through Hariri, it aims to isolate Hezbollah and push it out of war zones like Syria and Yemen where the Islamic kingdom has its own interests. In Syria, for instance, Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants fight alongside President Bashar al Assad's forces against a myriad of Sunni militant groups, some of which are funded by the Saudis.
The only group to maintain a paramilitary force since the end of Lebanon's bloody year civil war in , Hezbollah, which is financially and militarily supported by Iran, ignores the official Lebanese policy of staying out of regional conflicts. When this backfires, Lebanon suffers. Lebanese politics: I t's complicated. Lebanon has long been the ground where larger powers' proxy battles for regional influence play out.
The small country of 4 million is home to 18 different religious communities thanks to arbitrary border-drawing by French generals, who established the state in Lebanon won independence in , maintaining a French-inspired system of pluralistic democracy. Its unique consensus government, tailored to deal with a diverse population, rests on a power-sharing structure whereby the prime minister, president and speaker of the house must come from the country's three largest religious groups: Sunni, Maronite Christian and Shia, respectively.
Regional powers, therefore, often exert influence in the country through these various groups. The long and short of it? November 12, - Two suicide bombings in southern Beirut kill at least 43 people. A would-be suicide bomber who survived the attack tells investigators he is an ISIS recruit. He says he and three other attackers came from Syria two days earlier, according to a Lebanese security source. June 27, - Six people are killed and 19 others are wounded in a series of suicide attacks in a mainly Christian area of northern Lebanon, close to the border with Syria.
October 31, - Parliament elects Hezbollah-backed Aoun as president. November 3, - Aoun appoints Saad Hariri to be prime minister. Hariri previously served as prime minister from to August 16, - Parliament votes to repeal a clause that lets rapists avoid punishment if they marry their victims, according to the country's official news agency.
This follows moves by Jordan and Tunisia, which annulled their "marry-the-rapist" laws within the last month. August 27, - Lebanon's army and Hezbollah suspend their fight against ISIS, according to official announcements made on social media. This is the first such deal ISIS has made with an adversary. It leads to around ISIS fighters leaving Lebanon and the Lebanese army obtaining information about nine soldiers being held by the terror group.
November 4, - Hariri resigns in a televised address while in Saudi Arabia, saying he fears an assassination plot and accusing Iran and Hezbollah of meddling in the region. November 21, - Hariri announces he has accepted Aoun's wish for him to suspend his resignation to allow for more consultations on the reasons behind the move.
December 5, - Hariri rescinds his resignation after all factions of the Lebanese government -- including Hezbollah, with whom he shares power -- agree to stay out of regional conflicts, according to his press office. May 6, - The first parliamentary elections in nine years are held. Fewer than half of registered voters turn out to cast ballots, according to the interior minister.
May 24, - Aoun announces that Hariri has won a third term as prime minister, having received backing from politicians in the seat parliament. January 31, - Hariri announces that a new government has been formed after months of delays. September 16, - The Special Tribunal announces new charges against Ayyash, one of the individuals indicted for the assassination of Rafik Hariri. The new charges pertain to a series of three deadly attacks on politicians in and October 17, - A wave of massive protests begins in response to the announcement of austerity measures including a tax on WhatsApp calls.
The government withdraws its tax proposal soon after the protests start. October 21, - Hariri delivers a speech about economic reforms, including the scrapping of the austerity measures that prompted the protests. He also declares that his own salary will be cut. It's a decision for you to make. October 29, - Hariri announces that he will step down. October 30, - Aoun asks Hariri to stay on in a caretaker role until a new government is formed. Aoun says the protests have paved the way for reforms and declares the country will have a "clean government.
January 21, - A new government is formed. Hassan Diab, a professor and former education minister, is named prime minister. He is appointed with the backing of Hezbollah, its allies, and the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian political party. August 4, - A massive explosion rips through central Beirut , killing more than people and injuring thousands.
The blast, which damaged or destroyed much of the Lebanese capital, is linked to a long-neglected stash of potentially explosive chemicals. August 10, - Lebanon's government steps down, less than a week after the explosion in Beirut which sparked days of violent protests.
Diab addresses the nation, announcing his resignation and that of his government in the wake of the blast, which he called a "disaster beyond measure. October 22, - Hariri is named prime minister-designate. July 15, - Hariri steps down after his proposal for a new cabinet is not accepted by President Michel Aoun. October 14, - A political dispute over a probe into Beirut's August port blast prompts the worst violence Lebanon has witnessed in more than 10 years, after a protest descends into deadly street battles.
At least six people are killed. Photos: Lebanon: A history in pictures. A history in pictures — Lebanon gained independence from France in Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Syria, the country is one of the smallest in the Middle East by area. Despite its compact size, Lebanon has played an important role in regional politics, security and commerce throughout its history. Cultural and religious mix — The formation of neighbouring Israel in led to an exodus of Palestinian refugees into southern Lebanon.
The U. According to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lebanon is home to 18 separate religious sects and several different ethnic groups. Civil conflict — The civil war broadly pitted Palestinian and pro-Palestinian Muslim militias against Lebanon's Christian militias, devastating the country in the process.
An estimated , people were killed during the course of the conflict whilst thousands more fled the country. Outside influence — Instability in Lebanon has drawn in soldiers from neighbouring Israel and Syria at various points in the country's history. Israel kept troops in the south until In Syria withdrew troops that initially arrived in
0コメント