Beirut -

Many realize that the bloody events that Beirut experienced yesterday, Thursday, are a result of the course of political conflicts and their intersections after the explosion of Beirut Port on August 4, 2020, in a country that commemorates its first centenary at times, and gradually relives the scenes of civil war and sectarian and political fighting.

Here we present a chronology of the most prominent political stations that Lebanon experienced after the explosion of the port, and the overlap of local and regional events, coupled with an unprecedented economic and living collapse, which pushed about 75% of the population to the poor classes.

Observers believe that the accumulation of events, their hierarchy, and the time interval between them, specifically in the political issue, is a foundation for a phase, the effects of which are evident in the street.

The French President visited Beirut to inspect the scene of the explosion, and less than a month later he visited it again and announced his (European) initiative.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020:

At 6:08 pm, the first explosion occurred after a fire broke out in Ward 12, followed by a huge explosion, which resulted in a huge circle of smoke like a mushroom cloud, and its shocking aftershocks shook Beirut, and its echoes were heard in Cyprus, and scientists estimated that its pressure It is 3.3 on the Richter scale.

This resulted from the explosion of tons of ammonium nitrate, which is part of a cargo of 2,750 tons, stored since 2014. The authorities did not reveal the fate of the remaining materials, nor the circumstances of the landing of that ship’s cargo and the reasons for its arrival.

The explosion killed about 217 people, wounded more than 6,000, displaced about 300,000 families from their destroyed homes, and caused massive destruction in Beirut, with losses estimated at billions of dollars.

August 6, 2020:

French President Emmanuel Macron was the first foreign official to visit Beirut to inspect the scene of the explosion. He toured the stricken neighborhoods and addressed people emotionally.

August 10, 2020:

Prime Minister at the time, Hassan Diab, submitted the resignation of his government, which was preceded by the resignation of parliamentarians.

A day before the port explosion, former Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned, arguing that Lebanon was "sliding into a failed state."

August 13, 2020:

Acting First Military Investigative Judge Fadi Sawan assumed his duties as a judicial investigator for the crime of the explosion, at the suggestion of former Minister of Justice Marie-Claude Najm, and with the approval of the Supreme Judicial Council.

August 18, 2020:

The International Tribunal for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri convicted Salim Ayyash (affiliated with Hezbollah) of the assassination.

August 31, 2020:

The political forces agreed to appoint the former ambassador to Germany, Mustafa Adib, as head of the government to form a technocratic government.


September 1, 2020:

Macron arrived on a second visit to Beirut, which coincided with the first centenary of Greater Lebanon, and lasted for two days.

He supported Adeeb's assignment, and met with representatives of 8 major political forces - including Hezbollah - at Qasr al-Sannoub.

Macron announced his French initiative, and some saw it as an enhancement of France's role in Lebanon.

Within months, its content was exhausted, as a result of the inability of the forces to abide by it.

September 9, 2020:

The US Treasury announced imposing sanctions on two former ministers, former Minister of Works Youssef Fenianos (Marada Movement), and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil (Amal Movement), which complicated the political scene, and some forces saw that American pressure contributed to Obstructing the achievement of the French initiative after the port explosion.

September 26, 2020:

Mostafa Adeeb apologized for forming the government, after his efforts to make it a government of non-partisan specialists failed.

October 22, 2020:

President Michel Aoun commissioned Saad Hariri to form a new government, and this came nearly a year after his government resigned in the wake of the popular protests that began on October 17, 2019.

November 6, 2020:

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on the head of the Free Nation Movement, Gebran Bassil (President Aoun's son-in-law), and many saw that Washington's move constituted an additional factor in exacerbating the political situation between the forces that are unable to agree under the umbrella of the French initiative.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi presides over a mass from the port in honor of the victims (Reuters)

End of January 2021:

Tripoli, in northern Lebanon, witnessed confrontations between hundreds of demonstrators and security forces, which resulted in the death and injury of people, due to popular anger over the deteriorating situation.

Many forces warned against dragging the country into chaos and strife.

February 4, 2021: The

assassination of anti-Hezbollah political activist Luqman Salim, and investigations did not reveal the identity of those involved in his killing, which sparked a wide political and popular debate.

February 18, 2021:

The Criminal Court of Cassation suspended Judge Sawan's hand, against the background of suspicion cases against him, after he claimed in December against Hassan Diab and 3 former ministers: Ali Hassan Khalil, Ghazi Zuaiter and Youssef Fenianos, who did not appear before him.

February 27, 2021:

Thousands of Lebanese flocked to the patriarchal edifice, in support of the positions of Patriarch Al-Rahi, calling for the "internationalization of the Lebanese file" and the "neutrality of Lebanon" in the region.

Some chanted slogans condemning the Iranian intervention.

March 8, 2021:

The Commander of the Lebanese Army, Joseph Aoun, announced - during a military meeting - his rejection of the army's confrontation with the demonstrators, and criticized the political authority, asking: "Where are we going? We warned of the danger of the situation and the possibility of an explosion.." They suffer and starve just like the rest of the people.”

Hariri (right) apologized for forming the government after 9 months of commissioning and visiting President Aoun about 19 times (Reuters)

March 21, 2021: The

problem of political interference in the judiciary emerged, after the Discriminatory Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Oweidat, issued a decision to stop the Appeal Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghada Aoun, who was described as a rebellious judge. The second supports Judge Oweidat, a supporter of Hariri.

July 15, 2021:

Hariri announced his apology for forming the government, after about 9 months of commissioning and visiting President Aoun about 19 times, which contributed to the deterioration of the country's economic and political conditions, as a result of the sharp polarization between the Aoun and Hariri teams.

July 26, 2021:

President Aoun announced the assignment of Najib Mikati, the third after Diab and Hariri.

August 5, 2021:

For the first time since the end of the July 2006 war, Israel bombed sites in southern Lebanon, in response to the firing of 3 missiles from the south, which no one claimed. Two fell in Kiryat Shmona.

August 18, 2021:

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah announced the launch of a convoy of tankers for Iranian oil derivatives, and warned America and Israel against targeting them by sea, to arrive successively at the Syrian port of Banias, and to be transported to Lebanon by land through illegal crossings.

September 4, 2021:

An official Lebanese government delegation visited Syria for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict 10 years ago, with the aim of researching the import of energy and gas from Egypt and Jordan through Syria.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (right) demanded the replacement of Judge Al-Bitar and accused him of politicizing the investigation (communication sites)

September 8, 2021:

Energy ministers agreed in a quartet meeting in Amman to supply Beirut with Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity through Syria, with an American green light, as an indirect response to fuel tankers from Iran.

September 10, 2021:

Najib Mikati announced the formation of his government, two months after his assignment and more than a year in the government vacuum. He put negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on the agenda and preparing for the parliamentary elections next spring.

October 8, 2021:

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hussein Abdullahian visited Beirut, after the visit of Jordanian Prime Minister Bashir Al-Khasawneh, and a massive Western diplomatic movement in Beirut in support of the Mikati government.

October 11, 2021:

Nasrallah sharply criticized Judge Tariq Al-Bitar, accusing him of bias and politicizing the file, and demanded the government to dismiss him.

October 13, 2021:

Najib Mikati’s government session was postponed after ministers affiliated with the Amal movement and Hezbollah refused to attend unless it intervened to dismiss Judge Al-Bitar. On the same day, the duo’s supporters called on the people to take to the streets against the judge.


Thursday, October 14, 2021:

Supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement flocked to demand the removal of al-Bitar, and soon armed confrontations took place, in which light machine guns and “RPGs” were used in the Tayouneh area, which is located between the Shiite-majority Shiyah and Ain al-Rummaneh, which is predominantly Christian. About 5 hours, which resulted in the killing of 6 people and the wounding of 33, and the army is chasing the wanted militants.

On the same day, the First Chamber of the Civil Court of Cassation in Beirut rejected the request to dismiss Al-Bitar, for the third time in a row, after summoning Diab and the former ministers, who refused to appear before him and demanded his dismissal.