Lebanon: After Hariri

Tens of thousands of Lebanese chanting anti-Syrian slogans marched in the funeral procession of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri who was killed in a car bombing on February 14, 2005. The ensuing protests became known as the Cedar Revolution and resulted in deep political and sectarian divisions within Lebanon and Syria withdrawing her troops after nearly two decades of occupation.

That divide was further deepened after the 2006 war with Israel and a string of assassinations, which lead to violent strikes and political deadlock. In May 2008 Hezbollah temporarily took over west Beirut in a show of force resulting in the deadliest clashes since the civil war. An emergency conference in Doha conceded Hezbollah rights that had been revoked and a new president was appointed after 18 months without a head of state.