Lebanon’s civil war: The feud that never ended

Lebanon’s civil war: The feud that never ended

The Lebanese civil war that broke out in 1975 marked a dark chapter in the country’s history and would have an impact on the region for decades afterwards.

The conflict lasted for 15 years, as armed militias and their political sects battled for power. Alliances shifted over time and outside forces exploited the chaos for their own interests.

An estimated 150,000 people were killed in the fighting and thousands went missing. The war depleted the country's public resources and caused turmoil for years after.

But even after the war ended, the same sectarianism that fuelled the violence continued to thrive. It seeped into the country’s political institutions, into every facet of society, and it decimated the economy. Corruption and clientelism became the status quo. This led to a cycle of violence, popular uprisings and government stalemates.

On this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher marks the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the civil war with a look back at the events that shaped it, how it changed people’s lives and the complicated legacy that scarred the country. She speaks to experts and academics and asks, how much has really changed today?

Episoder(476)

Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Why has Israel decided to reoccupy Gaza - and at what cost?

Nearly two decades after Israel withdrew from Gaza, dismantling settlements and military posts under Ariel Sharon’s leadership, the Israeli government has now approved a plan to take over the Palestin...

8 Aug 202526min

More states say they will ‘recognise’ Palestine, but what does this mean?

More states say they will ‘recognise’ Palestine, but what does this mean?

A growing number of countries in the West have said they could soon recognise Palestinian statehood as Israel becomes increasingly isolated over its war in Gaza. Fifteen countries issued a joint decla...

2 Aug 202516min

Why is justice so delayed in Beirut port explosion?

Why is justice so delayed in Beirut port explosion?

Five years have passed since the Beirut port explosion – and still the families of the more than 220 victims killed in the blast await justice. Mariana Foudalian is one of them. She lost her sister Ga...

1 Aug 202517min

The Blast Episode 4: Fallout (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 4: Fallout (Re-run)

In the aftermath of the blast, residents took to the streets to sweep the shards of glass and piles of rubble. Meanwhile, politicians bickered and resigned. Judges were appointed to investigate the bl...

28 Jul 202537min

The Blast Episode 3: Zero hour (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 3: Zero hour (Re-run)

Ghassan Hassrouty was working with his colleagues at the port’s grain silos. Sarah Copland, an Australian UN employee, was feeding her son Isaac, 2. And then, it’s zero hour, the moment the blast tore...

28 Jul 202527min

The Blast Episode 2: The six-year wait (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 2: The six-year wait (Re-run)

After the cargo was moved to a warehouse at the port, it sat there for years. This episode connects the dots to understand why the chemical, commonly used in fertilisers and explosives, was neglected ...

28 Jul 202531min

The Blast Episode 1: The Russian and the Rhosus (Re-run)

The Blast Episode 1: The Russian and the Rhosus (Re-run)

In the summer of 2020, Lebanon had already been experiencing some of its worst days, due to a deepening financial crisis and the global pandemic. On August 4, things took a much darker turn. Hundreds ...

28 Jul 202528min

The enduring consequences of mass starvation in Gaza

The enduring consequences of mass starvation in Gaza

Hunger has killed more than 110 people so far in Gaza over the past 20 months of war. And in the past week, the number of deaths has accelerated, causing alarm about a looming full-scale famine in the...

25 Jul 202523min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
i-retten
forklart
stopp-verden
popradet
det-store-bildet
nokon-ma-ga
dine-penger-pengeradet
fotballpodden-2
rss-gukild-johaug
aftenbla-bla
hanna-de-heldige
rss-ness
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden
rss-dannet-uten-piano
bt-dokumentar-2
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk