The 1958 Lebanon Crisis: An Overview of a Decades-Old Problem
The Lebanon crisis of 1958 was a period of political instability, violence and civil unrest, which took place in the country of Lebanon for several months between 1958 and 1959. This crisis was not only significant for the country of Lebanon, but also for many nations around the world since it marked a pivotal point in the continuing struggle for peace in the Middle East. In this article, we’ll look at the events leading up to and including the crisis, the effects it had on some of the nations involved, and how its lasting effects are still felt today.
Background of the Crisi
It is important to first consider the historical context of this crisis in order to better understand how it occurred and why it had such a major impact. A major event that led to the civil unrest of 1958 was the dissolution of the League of Arab states in 1945. This league was formed in the early 1940s by a number of independent Middle Eastern countries in an effort to create a unified policy on how to deal with the problem of imperialistic colonialism in the region.
One of the key nations involved in the League was Lebanon. Lebanon is a small nation nestled between Syria and Israel, and serves as a buffer for both of those nations. Since its creation in 1920, Lebanon struggled to maintain a strong central government amidst rising tensions from several of its neighbors. In 1958, through a combination of internal disputes and interference from its neighbors, the Lebanese government had been reduced to barely any control outside of the capital city of Beirut.
The Situation Escalates
The crisis of 1958 saw tensions quickly escalating across the country. On July 14, 1958, the crisis reached a major turning point when some nationalist Muslim leaders, led by General Fuad Chehab, staged a coup against the ruling Christian elite. Chehab and his allies were successful in taking control of most of Lebanon’s major cities, and quickly set up a new government with General Chehab as President.
The following week, the United States government, under the leadership of President Eisenhower, sent in over 10,000 Marines in an effort to reinforce the depleted Lebanese forces and to help restore order. The goal of these forces was not only to secure the safety of the citizens of Lebanon, but also to maintain their neutrality in an increasingly volatile region. The situation seemed to be improving, but the crisis was far from over.
Sporadic Fighting
In the weeks that followed, sporadic clashes began to break out between the forces of Chehab and the US-backed government. Both sides engaged in a number of armed skirmishes and a series of political maneuvers in an effort to gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, the largely Christian areas of the country began to embrace Chehab’s cause, viewing him and his supporters as a shield against their own oppression.
This overall escalation resulted in increasing levels of civil unrest throughout the region, and eventually, the presence of foreign powers escalated the situation to the brink of war. In July of 1958, France, Britain, and the United States sent in forces to further bolster the government’s position. On July 18, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for all foreign forces to be removed from the area and declaring Lebanon to be a neutral zone.
International Intervention
By this point, it was becoming clear that this crisis would not end without some form of international intervention. The United States, through the direction of President Eisenhower, sent in the remaining Marine forces in the area and established a Middle East peacekeeping force known as United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). This force was given the authority to maintain Lebanon’s neutrality, keep order in the region, and ensure the withdrawal of all foreign powers from Lebanese territory.
In August of 1958, an armistice was finalized, ending the clashes between the various sides and restoring order to the country. The UNEF forces, as well as a number of other diplomatic efforts, were largely responsible for this ceasefire. The UNEF forces remained in Lebanon until October 28, 1959 and were eventually responsible for helping to stabilize the peace that had been achieved.
Lasting Effects
The crisis in Lebanon had some major and long lasting effects, both on Lebanon and in the broader Middle East. As a result of the crisis, the Lebanese government underwent a major reorganization and the number of powers vying for control of the country greatly diminished. This had a major stabilizing effect in the region, and would eventually result in the beginning of a new era in Middle Eastern politics.
On the other hand, the discrimination and violence that had occurred during the crisis also had some very negative effects on Lebanon’s population. The country saw an influx of refugees from the neighboring states and many of the people who had been afflicted by the violence and instability had yet to receive any form of reparation.
The 1958 Lebanon crisis marked a significant turning point in the Middle East, and its lasting effects are still felt to this day. Not only did it cause much political and social instability within Lebanon, it also created a wider ripple effect across the Middle East and beyond. It is easy to forget the awfulness that this crisis represented, but its consequences still linger unbeknownst to some. Hopefully, through continued diplomatic efforts, similar events can be avoided in the future.