War Information
10 sectionsWars History of Baabda
Baabda, the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate and seat of the Lebanese presidency, has been repeatedly scarred by war and foreign intervention across centuries. From the 1860 civil conflict between Druze and Maronite communities to the devastating 1975–1990 Lebanese Civil War, the 1982 Israeli invasion, the 2006 July War, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and the renewed Israeli wars of 2023–2026, Baabda has witnessed some of Lebanon's most pivotal moments.
The 1860 Mount Lebanon Civil War
In May 1860, sectarian violence erupted in Mount Lebanon when Maronite militiamen mobilized near Baabda. Between 7,000 and 11,000 people were killed across Mount Lebanon, with 380 Christian villages destroyed. Baabda's mixed population was caught in the crossfire. The conflict led to the autonomous Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate in 1861, with Baabda as capital.
Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990)
The 15-year civil war engulfed Baabda in multiple phases. In March 1976, leftist militias attacked the Presidential Palace with 155mm shells. From 1988 to 1990, General Michel Aoun fortified the palace and declared a War of Liberation. On October 13, 1990, Syrian warplanes bombed the palace, executing up to 80 surrendered soldiers. An estimated 800 died in the assault.
The 1982 Israeli Invasion and the Battle of Baabda
On June 13–14, 1982, Israeli forces advanced on Baabda to cut the Beirut-Damascus highway during Operation Peace for Galilee. Syrian commandos ambushed the Israeli column near Shuweifat in 14 hours of fierce combat. The Israelis eventually broke through and occupied Baabda.
The 2006 July War
During the 34-day conflict, the Zionist entity launched devastating airstrikes across Mount Lebanon. The nearby southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahieh) were relentlessly bombed. Israeli warplanes destroyed 640 km of roads, 73 bridges, and 15,000 homes. Hezbollah's resistance forced Israel to withdraw without achieving its objectives.
2020: The Beirut Port Explosion
On August 4, 2020, a catastrophic explosion at the Port of Beirut killed over 200 people, injured 6,500, and damaged 77,000 apartments. The blast devastated neighborhoods across Beirut and Mount Lebanon, including Baabda district. The explosion was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate unsafely stored at the port. The investigation remains blocked and politicized to this day.
2023–2024: The Support Front and Escalation
On October 8, 2023, Hezbollah opened a support front in solidarity with Palestine, launching rockets at Israeli positions. Over the following year, Israeli airstrikes killed over 2,500 people in Lebanon and displaced 95,000. In September 2024, Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign across Lebanon. On October 1, 2024, Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon. A ceasefire on November 27, 2024 was repeatedly violated by Israel.
2026: Renewed War and Israeli Aggression
On March 2, 2026, after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets at Israel. Israel responded with massive airstrikes on Dahieh near Baabda and a ground invasion. On April 8, 2026, Israel launched 100+ airstrikes across Lebanon in 10 minutes, killing 357 people. By June 2026, over 3,700 had been killed in Lebanon.
Resistance and the Axis of Resistance
Baabda stands as a symbol of Lebanese sovereignty and resistance. Hezbollah forced the Israeli occupation to withdraw in 2000 and inflicted historic defeats in 2006 and 2024. Despite immense US sanctions and Israeli threats, the axis of resistance remains rooted in Lebanon. Baabda Palace continues to host embassies of nations supporting resistance against colonial domination.
