Word: christian
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Syrian military forces, which had moved into Lebanon in 1976 to control Palestinian and Muslim leftists then threatening Christian political elements in the country and had stayed on as part of an Arab peace-keeping force, were now waging war against the Christians they had once rescued from defeat. After six days of heavy fighting around Beirut that left more than 200 dead and 500 wounded, a shaky cease-fire went into effect. But not before the conflict had nearly triggered the resignation of President Elias Sarkis and threatened to engulf the region in a deadly confrontation between Israel...
...renewed fighting was touched off by a bitter feud involving the country's three major Christian factions: Pierre Gemayel's Phalangists, Camille Chamoun's National Liberals, and forces loyal to former President Suleiman Franjieh, a close ally of Syrian President Hafez Assad. The dispute centers on the fact that Gemayel and Chamoun would like to create a separate Christian state in northern Lebanon, while Franjieh supports a unified nation. Franjieh also believes the country's sovereignty is best guaranteed by the presence of the Syrian army...
...Palestinians and Muslim left, Gemayel and Chamoun have seized the opportunity to build up their own military forces. During the past three months, Gemayel's 15,000-man army, which is led by Israeli-trained officers, has tried to extend its influence over areas loyal to the other Christian chieftains. In several incidents, the Phalangists fired on Syrian soldiers, who initially retreated rather than get involved in pitched battles. Boasting about their "victories over the Syrian occupation," the Phalangists last month attacked the resort village of Ehden, killing Franjieh's son Tony, his wife and daughter...
...Phalange. Using heavy artillery and rocket barrages, Syrian forces last week bombarded towns and installations controlled by Phalangist and National Liberal militiamen. The heaviest fire was concentrated on East Beirut, where both Gemayel's and Chamoun's headquarters went up in flames. "This is genocide against the Christians of Lebanon," protested Chamoun. Lebanese Foreign Minister Fuad Butros rushed to Damascus in a vain attempt to arrange a ceasefire. But Syria's tough Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas responded: "The Syrian army will strike with an iron fist to destroy the Phalangist and Chamounist gangs." Asserted Radio Damascus: "Syria...
...Many Christian families who survived the civil war in West Beirut had gone to the eastern part of the city to try and start a new life. They said it would be safer there. Now black smoke hangs over it like a cloud smelling of death. Shells land every three minutes. In the Phalangist stronghold of Ain Rumanneh, every house has been hit and many leveled. One man who ran upstairs during a lull to salvage an old family heirloom had his legs blown off. The guns keep firing, the Phalange radio says hundreds are homeless...