·  April 13, 1975: A civil war erupts in Lebanon after a bus carrying Palestinians is attacked in Beirut. The attack is believed to have been carried out by right-wing Christian militants, but at this date it is uncertain who was responsible.

·  April 18, 1975: The Syrian Army intervenes to support Christian factions, which are aligned with Syria's ruling Baath Party. The intervention is seen as a move to counter the influence of other Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which are supporting different factions in Lebanon.

·  January 21, 1976: The Syrian Army, with the backing of Muslim factions, launches an offensive against Christian militias in the city of Zahle. The battle lasts for two months and results in heavy damage to the city, but the Christian militias are able to hold their ground.

·  June 4-7, 1976: The Battle of the Hotels takes place in Beirut, in which leftist and Muslim militias launch a surprise attack on Christian militias in several hotels within the city. The battle results in heavy casualties and destruction, and is seen as a turning point in the war, with the balance of power shifting in favor of the leftist and Muslim factions.

·  October 1976: An Arab League summit in Riyadh leads to the deployment of an Arab Deterrent Force to Lebanon to maintain peace. The force is made up of troops from several Arab countries, including Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, but it is largely ineffective in stopping the fighting.

·  March 16, 1978: Israel launches Operation Litani, a military invasion of southern Lebanon, in response to attacks by Palestinian militants. The invasion results in the creation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is tasked with ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and maintaining peace and security in the area.

·  September 1982: Israel launches a full-scale invasion of Lebanon, with the goal of removing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from the country and establishing a friendly government. The Israeli military occupies much of Lebanon, including Beirut, and imposes a naval blockade on the country. The invasion results in heavy civilian casualties, with an estimated number of 18,000, and damage to infrastructure.

·  September 14-16, 1982: The Sabra and Shatila massacre takes place in Beirut, in which Lebanese Christian militiamen kill hundreds to thousands of Palestinian refugees, while Israeli forces surround the camps. The massacre is widely condemned by the international community and leads to calls for an independent investigation.

·  1983: Suicide bombings target the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, killing over 300 people. The bombings are carried out by militants affiliated with Hizbullah, a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon.

·  1985: Israel withdraws from most of Lebanon, but maintains a presence in a buffer zone in the south. The withdrawal is met with celebrations in Beirut and other cities, but the situation in the country remains tense, with ongoing fighting between different factions.

·  1988: The term of Lebanese President Amine Gemayel ends, but no successor is elected due to political deadlock. The country is left without a president for over a year, and the government is paralyzed by infighting and corruption.

·  October 22, 1989: The Taif Agreement is signed in Saudi Arabia, which calls for a new constitution and power-sharing between different religious groups in Lebanon. The agreement is seen as a major step towards ending the civil war, and paves the way for a new government to be formed.

·  1990: Syrian forces, backed by Lebanese militias, launch a full-scale attack on Christian militias and take control of Beirut, effectively ending the civil war. The attack was met with little resistance, and many Lebanese welcomed the end of the conflict.

·  2005: The Cedar Revolution takes place in Lebanon, with protests calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country. The protests were sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a bombing in Beirut. The protests were successful, and Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon.

A prominent figure in Lebanese politics who played a major role in the early stages of the war, Bashir Pierre Gemayel was a Lebanese political figure known for his leadership and commitment to his country. Born on November 10, 1947, he emerged as a prominent figure during the Lebanese Civil War, leading the Phalange Party's militia forces after joining the South Lebanon Army, and advocating for the protection of the Christian community. In 1982, he achieved a significant milestone by becoming Lebanon's president-elect, symbolizing hope for national unity and reform. His political career was cut short when he was assassinated on September 14, 1982, just days before he was scheduled to take office. Shortly after Gemayel's assassination, the tragedy of the Sabra and Shatila massacre took place as what was described as an act of revenge.

Walid Jumblatt is the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) since 1977 and has been actively involved in Lebanese politics for decades. Born on August 7, 1949, he hails from the influential Jumblatt family and has inherited a legacy of leadership. He is known for his astute political maneuvering and ability to navigate complex alliances in the ever-changing landscape of Lebanese politics. Jumblatt has played a significant role in advocating for the rights of the Druze community, having helped mobilize the Druze fighters during the conflict as well as participating in various political coalitions to promote stability and progress in Lebanon. His political acumen and strong influence have made him a key figure in shaping Lebanon's political landscape. To this day, he continues to be active in politics, having led the Progressive Socialist Party in the 2022 Lebanese general election.

Menachem Begin, born on August 16, 1913 in Belarus, was an Israeli politician and leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun. While also the Israeli Prime Minister at the time, Begin played a pivotal role in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Begin, infamous for his staunch nationalist views, authorized the military campaign with the aim of eliminating the perceived threat posed by Palestinian militants operating from southern Lebanon. The invasion, which began in June 1982, saw Israeli forces push deep into Lebanese territory. Begin's government, in collaboration with allied Christian militias, sought to establish a new political order in Lebanon and create a buffer zone along the Israeli-Lebanese border. However, the invasion also brought significant international criticism, particularly due to the Sabra and Shatila massacres, which occurred under Israeli occupation. Begin's decision to invade Lebanon had profound consequences, reshaping the dynamics of the conflict and leaving a lasting impact on Lebanon and the region as a whole.

Born on February 26, 1928, Ariel Sharon was an Israeli politician and Israeli Defense Minister during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Sharon played a key role in shaping the military strategy and execution of the operation. Known for his aggressive approach, Sharon was a strong advocate for the invasion and sought to eradicate the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) threat from southern Lebanon. Under his command, Israeli forces swiftly advanced deep into Lebanese territory. However, Sharon's decision-making and handling of the conflict faced significant criticism, particularly in relation to the Sabra and Shatila massacres. These brutal events, carried out by Christian militias allied with Israel, occurred in Palestinian refugee camps and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. The invasion and its consequences marked a defining chapter in Sharon's military and political career, with ongoing debates surrounding his level of responsibility for the atrocities committed during the campaign.

Samir Geagea, a prominent Lebanese political figure, was intricately involved in the events surrounding the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Born on October 25, 1952, he emerged as a key leader within the Lebanese Forces (LF), a right-wing Christian political and military organization. Geagea played a significant role during the Lebanese Civil War, where the LF was involved in various military operations. During the invasion, the LF collaborated with Israeli forces in their military operations. Geagea rose through the ranks to become one of the most influential leaders of the Lebanese Forces. He was known for his strong and assertive leadership style, which earned him both support and criticism. In 1994, Gaegea faced arrest and imprisonment for accusations of the involvement of the LF in the bombing of the Church of Sayyidet Al Net (Our Lady of Deliverance). Gaegea was released from prison in 2005, and remains active in Lebanese politics. In 2022, Gaegea made a public statement on his belief of "how the grip of Hizbullah on Lebanon must end."

Saad Haddad was a prominent figure during the Lebanese Civil War as the leader of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia. Established with Israeli support, the SLA was predominantly composed of Christian fighters who operated in southern Lebanon. Haddad played a key role in collaborating with Israeli forces, effectively forming a buffer zone in the region. Under his leadership, the SLA conducted military operations against various Lebanese and Palestinian factions. Haddad's alliance with Israel and his militant actions earned him both support and criticism. While seen by some as a protector of Christian interests, others accused him of collaborating with foreign forces and exacerbating sectarian tensions. Haddad's tenure as the leader of the SLA had a significant impact on the dynamics of the Lebanese Civil War and the political landscape in southern Lebanon during that period. Saad Haadad died in his hometown of Marjaayoun, Lebanon from cancer in January 1984.

While Hizbullah did not emerge as a major player in the Lebanese Civil War until later in the conflict, the group played a significant role in shaping the post-war political landscape of Lebanon. Hizbullah is a Shi'a Islamist political and militant group that was formed in the 1980s, in response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. During the civil war, Hizbullah was a small and relatively unknown group, but it gained prominence in the years following the conflict due to its military and political activities. Today, Hizbullah is one of the most powerful political and military forces in Lebanon, with a significant presence in the country's parliament and government.

The documents collected in Hizbullah's Documents: From the 1985 Open Letter to the 2009 Manifesto provide valuable insights into the evolution of Hizbullah's political ideology and its role in the Lebanese Civil War. The documents reveal that Hizbullah was founded in response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and was initially focused on armed resistance against the occupation. Over time, the group's political ideology evolved to encompass a broader range of issues, including opposition to American and Western influence in the region, support for the Palestinian cause, and the promotion of an Islamic state. The documents also highlight the close relationship between Hizbullah and Iran, with Iran providing financial and military support to the group throughout the conflict. Ultimately, the documents show that Hizbullah played a significant role in the Lebanese Civil War and that the conflict helped to shape the group's political ideology and rise to power in Lebanon.

Established in 1964 with a goal of promoting Palestinian nationalism and realizing Palestinian self-determination, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was and is still often seen as the representative of the Palestinian people and their plight. Their presence in Lebanon during the 1970s and 1980s was one of the driving forces behind the Israeli invasion in 1982, as the PLO maintained what amounted to a state-within-a-state in Lebanon, with its own territory and armed forces. Based in Beirut in 1982, the Israeli armed forces worked to drive out the PLO and establish a security zone within Lebanon to resist against PLO incursions into their nation. Though devoted and heavily resistant to the Israeli assault, the PLO was forced to leave Lebanon as a direct result of Israeli involvement. However, the departure was not seen as a total strategic loss for the PLO, who had gained much politically from the violent nature of the Israeli invasion. A great degree of international pressure was placed on Israeli to halt the war, and the PLO left Beirut in what seemed more a parade than a defeat. They would relocate to Tunisia in October, a relatively stable home compared to those nations surrounding Israel and Lebanon, but this ultimately weakened their ability to influence the course of the Palestinian cause as directly.

A leading figure in the Palestinian cause and in Palestinian politics, Arafat was born in Cairo, Egypt, on August 24, 1929. Arafat played a crucial role in the Palestinian national movement and the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The PLO had established a strong presence in Lebanon, particularly in refugee camps such as Sabra and Shatila. However, when the Israeli invasion of Lebanon took place in 1982, Arafat and the PLO faced a severe military assault. Israeli forces aimed to remove the PLO from Lebanese territory and weaken their influence. As a result, Arafat and the PLO were forced to evacuate Beirut and relocate to Tunisia. The events of 1982 marked a major setback for the PLO and significantly altered the dynamics of the Palestinian struggle in Lebanon. It also represented a turning point in Arafat's leadership, as he had to navigate the challenges posed by the Israeli invasion and reorganize the PLO's operations from outside Lebanon. Despite his efforts, a final resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remained elusive during his lifetime. Arafat's legacy continues to be debated, with some viewing him as a freedom fighter and others as a controversial figure.