50 years ago today, on April 13, 1975, a group of gunmen, belonging to the right-wing Kataeb party, opened fire on a bus of Palestinian civilians in Lebanon, killing 27 and injuring 20 others. Known notoriously as the bus massacre, this event is widely recognized as the trigger that sparked what would come to be known as the Lebanese Civil War. However, the roots of the conflict are far deeper and are in fact many different wars wrapped up in one. All told, the wars would rage on for at least 15 years, killing at least 150,000, displacing millions, and reconfiguring the entire country and the region.
In this episode of the From The Periphery Podcast Elia Ayoub and Ayman Makarem go into depth about the many wars that raged in Lebanon since 1975. We provide an overview of key events and try to tie together the many different strands, struggles, and conflicts that make up what is better called the Lebanon Wars. We also try as much as possible to connect this history to the present moment because, as we discuss, in many ways, the wars never really ended.
If you want to learn more about the Lebanese wars, I will be hosting a series of online screenings of Lebanese films and documentaries that cover different phases and aspects of the wars. The screenings will be held weekly starting on April 20 and continuing every Sunday for 5 weeks. The screenings will also be followed by a group discussion. Invitations to these screenings will be available through our Patreon, where all members will get immediate access. If you’re not yet a member, but want to join the screenings there are two things you can do: become a member, or buy the invitation via one-time purchase also available on our Patreon.
Hosts:
Ayman Makarem (Bluesky, Instagram)
Elia Ayoub (Bluesky, Mastadon)
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