Lebanon's Civil War: 50 Years Later, Scars on Buildings and Minds

Enduring Scars of Conflict

• 📌 Fifty years after the start of Lebanon's civil war, traces of the conflict are still visible on buildings and in the memories of those who experienced it.
• 💥 In the Reme neighborhood, a building riddled with bullet holes serves as a stark reminder of sniper fire and heavy losses.
• ⚔️ Gibrani, who joined Christian militias at 21, recounts the intense fighting and the significant human cost of the war.

Dividing Lines and Symbols

• 🚧 Sodico Avenue, once a notorious dividing line between East and West Beirut, still marks the separation between Christian and Muslim neighborhoods.
• 🏠 The "Yellow House," a former sniper stronghold, is preserved as a powerful symbol of Lebanon's suffering and resilience.
• 🛡️ Survivors recall seeking shelter in buildings, with only certain rooms offering a semblance of safety from shelling.

Lingering Memories and Political Entrenchment

• 🏫 In West Beirut, Nabil Salam vividly remembers the first shell hitting a school courtyard and students hiding for protection.
• 🎯 The "war of liberation" saw intense shelling of socialist areas, highlighting the brutality of the conflict.
• 🏛️ The legacy of militia leaders like Bashir Gemayel, who was assassinated, continues to influence Lebanon, with many former warlords still holding political power.

A Lost History for the Young

• 📚 History education in Lebanon often stops before the civil war, leaving many students unaware of key dates like April 13th.
• 🗣️ Teachers find it challenging to discuss the politically sensitive conflict, focusing instead on critical thinking and root causes.
• 🧩 Lebanon lacks a single, shared historical narrative of the war, resulting in differing memories across communities and families.