Lebanon came under a French mandate towards the end of WWI, after nearly 400 years as part of the Ottoman Empire. During the German occupation of France in WWII, Lebanon chose to assert its independence, becoming a state of its own in 1943. After independence, power was shared proportionately between the dominant Maronite Christians, then the Sunnis, and then the Shiite minority. Changing demographics and differing views on what political alignments the state should pursue, however, soon created deep rifts in society. The “Lebanese Civil War” that stretched from 1975 to 1990, pitting a vast number of political militias against each other and the government, also saw active participation by the states of Israel and Syria. The conflict ended when Syrian forces crushed the last remaining opposition to the Taif Agreement, signed in 1989 by Lebanese parliamentarians. The Taif Agreement allowed the Shiite Hezbollah militia to maintain its armed forces and Hezbollah thus remained in southern Lebanon, where it fought against the Israeli-occupied territories. Despite the eventual withdrawal of Israeli and Syrian forces, divides continued to plague Lebanon well into the 21st century, particularly in 2006 with new hostilities on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Recent hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel have increased tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
In 2014, the violent crisis between Sunni militant groups and the government, supported by Hezbollah, erupted. The crisis escalated to a limited war between the government and Hezbollah forces on one side and the militant groups Abdullah Azzam Brigades, al-Nusra Front, and ISIS on the other. The conflict was affected by the ongoing Syrian civil war and Hezbollah’s involvement in it, with attacks and skirmishes concentrating on the capital Beirut, Tripoli, and Beqaa governorate. Lebanese opponents and supporters of the Syrian government fought in both countries, with Lebanon’s Sunni Muslims mostly supporting the rebels in Syria, while Shi’ites largely supported the Syrian president. In May 2015, the conflict further intensified as Hezbollah and Syrian rebels fought for control of the Qalamoun area. However, the conflict in 2016 de-escalated slightly, although the country continued to be impacted by the war in Syria, especially with Hezbollah’s continued support of the Assad regime. The Lebanese military continued to target suspected Sunni militants, while Hezbollah and al-Nusra (now renamed al-Sham) also clashed frequently. Violence related to the Syrian war was focused on the border areas with Syria, where Sunni militants clashed with IS over control. The Lebanese military shelled both Sunni and IS militants in the area.
Today, Lebanon continues to face a worsening economic crisis, considered one of the world’s worst. As a result of this crisis and rising food prices, violent uprisings occurred, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 was marked by a significant number of deadly uprisings. The government has failed to take effective measures to cooperate with international actors to obtain financial aid. The 2020 Beirut port explosion further devastated the economy and public confidence in the government. By 2024–2025, Lebanon’s political system remains paralyzed — the country has been without a fully functioning president since 2022, while the Lebanese pound has lost over 95% of its value. Tensions along the southern border with Israel have grown sharply following Israel’s 2023 war on Gaza, as Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged frequent fire. Thousands of Lebanese have fled villages near the border, and the UN has warned that a full-scale regional escalation could occur if clashes continue. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has declared its full support for Hamas, marking the most dangerous rise in hostilities since 2006.
Peace Attempts:
The Lebanese Civil War ended through a mixture of political reconciliation, reform, and force. Lebanese parliamentarians undertook negotiations at an Arab-brokered conference in Saudi Arabia in 1989. Although the warring parties did not take part in the negotiations, the Taif Agreement involved parliamentarians representing factions from the early years of the conflict. The civil war was technically ended by force through the defeat of the last military opposition to the accord. Recent peace attempts have been limited and often undermined by political corruption and foreign interference. The UN supported Lebanon’s political transition after the withdrawal of Syrian forces but has labeled the ongoing political stalemate as a “disappointment at best and irresponsible at worst.”
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), active since 1978, continues to monitor the border between Israel and Lebanon and prevent escalation, with over 10,000 personnel currently deployed. Its mission remains vital as hostilities with Israel persist. In 2024 and 2025, the UN and France urged restraint after Hezbollah-Israel border clashes escalated amid the Gaza conflict. Diplomatic backchannels involving the US, Qatar, and Egypt have sought to prevent all-out war, but ceasefires along the border remain fragile and frequently violated. Domestically, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union have urged Lebanon to enact political reforms as a prerequisite for financial aid, yet gridlock and elite resistance persist.
Humanitarian efforts by UNICEF, UNHCR, and the World Food Programme continue to support more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees and millions of impoverished Lebanese citizens. However, peace remains elusive. Political paralysis, Hezbollah’s growing influence, and external pressures have left Lebanon in a state of chronic instability, with the threat of war and economic collapse still looming over its future.
