The Brutal Lebanese Civil War in Photographs, 1975-1989
The Lebanese Civil War was a devastating conflict that lasted from 1975 to 1990, leaving deep political, social, and economic scars on the country. It was one of the most complex wars of the 20th century, involving numerous Lebanese sectarian militias, regional powers, and international actors. Lebanon, created in 1943 as an independent state, was built on a delicate sectarian balance among its Christian, Sunni Muslim, and Shia Muslim populations, along with Druze and other communities.
The 1943 National Pact established power-sharing but entrenched divisions along sectarian lines. Over time, demographic changes, economic inequality, and the presence of Palestinian refugees and the armed Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) strained this balance. The war began in April 1975, following violent clashes between Christian militias (notably the Phalangists) and Palestinian groups.
This quickly spiraled into a broader civil conflict involving sectarian militias and external forces. The collapse of central authority allowed militias to carve out territories, leading to brutal cycles of violence and displacement.
