Beirut 1989: The Taif Accord That Ended Lebanon's Civil War

In 1989, Lebanon's brutal 15-year civil war was not ended on the battlefield but at a conference table in the Saudi mountain resort of Taif. This episode focuses on the Taif Accord — the political agreement that restructured Lebanon's confessional system and paved the way for peace. We examine the roles of key figures like Rafik Hariri, Speaker of Parliament Hussein al-Husseini, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, and Saudi mediation. How did the accord rebalance power between Maronites, Sunnis, Shia, and Druze? Why did it take until 1991 for a full ceasefire? And did it truly resolve the underlying tensions, or merely freeze them? Through the lens of the Taif negotiations, we explore the compromises, the violence that continued even as talks progressed, and the legacy of a document that remains the framework for Lebanese politics today.

#Lebanon #CivilWar #TaifAccord #RafikHariri #HafezAlAssad #SaudiArabia #Maronite #Sunni #Shia #Druze #Confessionalism #PeaceProcess #1989 #HusseinAlHusseini #Syria #Politics #History #FexingoHistory #Phoenicians #Beirut

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