West Beirut
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West Beirut is a term referring to the western part of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The name became popular during the Lebanese Civil War that lasted from 1975 to 1990, when the city was divided into two main areas: West Beirut, which was known as the Muslim area, and East Beirut, which was known as the Christian area,[1][2] with the "Green Line" as a dividing line between them.[3]
Features
[edit]The area includes many neighborhoods such as Hamra, Ras Beirut, Mousaitbeh, and Ain El Mreisseh. Historically, West Beirut has played an important cultural and political role in Lebanon, and is characterized by prestigious universities like the American University of Beirut (AUB) as well as other cultural institutions.
Civil war
[edit]The western Beirut was under the control of the Lebanese National Movement,[4] which included the Progressive Socialist Party, the Amal Movement,[5] the Palestine Liberation Army, the Lebanese Communist Party, and the Independent Nasserite Movement, while the Lebanese Forces controlled the other part of the capital (East).[4] Within the framework of the Arab Deterrent Forces, the reinforced Syrian 85th Infantry Brigade was deployed in the western sector. West Beirut was famous for its inclusion of the civil government of Salim al-Hoss (supported by Syria), as opposed to the military government headed by Michel Aoun in East Beirut.[6]
Movie
[edit]There is a Lebanese film of the same name, "West Beirut", directed by Ziad Doueiri, which was released in 1998, who's story takes place during the civil war, telling the story of a group of kids living in Beirut during that period. The film highlights their experiences and dreams in a world full of conflicts.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ saeed, Ali (2022-05-30). "الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية.. النموذج الأكثر شبهًا لحرب اليمن". المشاهد نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "40 عامًا على الحرب الأهلية في لبنان • نون بوست". www.noonpost.com (in Arabic). 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ a b "حرب لبنان: مرجعيات إنشاءات الذاكرة". SalamWaKalam (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "لبنان: ميشال عون بين رئاستين". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (10 September 1999). "West Beirut". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
Sources
[edit]- El‐Masri, Souheil (1989). "Displacements and Reconstruction: The Case of West Beirut – Lebanon". Disasters. 13 (4): 334–344. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.1989.tb00727.x. ISSN 0361-3666.
- Yassin, Nasser (2012). "Beirut". Cities. 29 (1): 64–73. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2011.02.001.