Beirut: Timeline

551   Beirut destroyed by earthquake Earthquake

An earthquake is a phenomenon [i] that results from and is powered by the sudden release of stored energ ... 

 and tsunami Tsunami

A tsunami is a series of waves [i] when a body of water [i], such as an ocean [i] ... 

.

1110   Beirut and Sidon are captured by the Crusaders

1840   Ottoman and British troops bombard Beirut and land troops on the coast to pressure Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 

ian Muhammad Ali to retreat from the country.

1958   In Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

, 5,000 United States Marines land in the capital Beirut in order to protect the pro-Western government there

1976   Hundreds of Western tourists are moved from Beirut and taken to safety in Syria Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in the Middle East [i]. ... 

 by the U.S. military, following the murder of the U.S. ambassador Ambassador

An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or go... 

.

1981   Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

i bombers destroy the PLO headquarters in Beirut.

1981   A car bomb Car bomb

A car bomb is an improvised explosive device [i] that is placed in a car or other vehicle and then exploded [i] ... 

 destroys the Iraq Iraq

The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle East [i]ern country [i] in southwestern Asia [i] encomp ... 

i Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

, killing 61 people. This is the first modern suicide bombing. Syria Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in the Middle East [i]. ... 

n intelligence is blamed.

1982   The 1982 Lebanon War begins: Forces under Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

i Defense Minister Ariel Sharon Ariel Sharon

Ariel Sharon is a former Israeli politician and general [i]. ... 

 invade southern Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

 in their "Operation Peace for the Galilee," eventually reaching as far north as the capital Beirut.

1983   The U.S Embassy is bombed in Beirut, killing 63 people.

1983   Simultaneous suicide truck-bombings destroy both the French and the United States Marine Corps United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the U.S. military [i], respons ... 

 barracks in Beirut, killing 241 US servicemen, 58 French paratroopers and 6 Lebanese civilians.

1984   United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 Marines United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the U.S. military [i], respons ... 

 pull out of Beirut, Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

.

1984   The CIA Central Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency is an intelligence agency [i] of the United States Government [i]. ... 

 station chief in Beirut, William Buckley, is kidnapped by Islamic Jihad Islamic Jihad

Islamic Jihad is an Islamic group based in the Syria [i]n capital [i], Damascus [i]. ... 

 and later dies in captivity.

1985   Associated Press newsman Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut. He will be released on December 4, 1991.

1987   Terry Waite, the special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England [i] and of the worldwide Anglican Communion [i] ... 

 in Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

, is kidnapped in Beirut (released November 1991).

1989   In West Beirut, a bomb explodes near the motorcade of Lebanese Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

 President Rene Moawad and kills him.

1991   Journalist Terry Anderson is released after 7 years' captivity as a hostage in Beirut (he was the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

).

2005   A massive suicide bomb blast in central Beirut kills Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

's former prime minister Rafik Hariri Rafik Hariri

Ramez Bahaa Edine Hariri — Arabic [i]: ???? ???? ????? ??????? —, a self-made billionaire an ... 

 and at least 15 other people. At least 135 other people are also hurt.

2005   Approximately 1 million people gather for an opposition rally in Beirut, a month after the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Rafik Hariri

Ramez Bahaa Edine Hariri — Arabic [i]: ???? ???? ????? ??????? —, a self-made billionaire an ... 

. It is the largest rally in Lebanon Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous [i] country ... 

's history. 's Pinellas Park, Florida hospice, March 27, 2005.]]