Editing History of Lebanon (section)

===Beirut port explosion and state of emergency===
[[File:Aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosions august 10 2020 6.jpg|thumb|Aftermath of the 4 August 2020 Beirut explosion]]
On 4 August 2020, the [[2020 Beirut explosion|Beirut explosion]] occurred in the port sector of the city, destroying hectares of buildings and killing over 200 people. It was felt throughout the country. 4 days later on 8 August, a peaceful protest was organized starting from the port of Beirut and destined for the parliament building.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/world/middleeast/Beirut-explosion-protests-lebanon.html|title=Clashes Erupt in Beirut at Blast Protest as Lebanon's Anger Boils over|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 August 2020|last1=Hubbard|first1=Ben|last2=El-Naggar|first2=Mona|access-date=4 April 2021|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809192640/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/world/middleeast/Beirut-explosion-protests-lebanon.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The demonstrators were faced with brutal, deadly, and extreme excessive force including the use of live-ammunition by the security apparatus to oppress and subdue demonstrators. 728 demonstrators were injured during the 8 August protests and at least 153 injuries were severe enough to be treated in surrounding hospitals.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/26/lebanon-lethal-force-used-against-protesters|title = Lebanon: Lethal Force Used Against Protesters|date = 26 August 2020|access-date = 4 April 2021|archive-date = 27 August 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200827100147/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/26/lebanon-lethal-force-used-against-protesters|url-status = live}}</ref> Amid much popular unrest, the entire [[cabinet of Hassan Diab]] resigned on 10 August, and a state of emergency, which gave "the army broad powers to prevent gatherings, censor media and arrest anyone deemed to be a security threat", was declared on 13 August by the caretaker government. On 14 August, Hezbollah leader [[Hassan Nasrallah]] "referred to the possibility of civil war" were the anti-government protestors to force an early election. Meanwhile, [[Iran]]ian foreign minister [[Javad Zarif]] complained about the presence of "French and [[United Kingdom|British]] warships that were deployed to assist in the delivery of medical assistance and other aid."<ref name="lpmm">{{cite news |last1=MacKinnon |first1=Mark |title=Lebanese protesters fight to bring down the system |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-lebanese-protesters-fight-to-bring-down-the-system/ |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=15 August 2020 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022103218/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-lebanese-protesters-fight-to-bring-down-the-system/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lfcgm">{{cite news |last1=MacKinnon |first1=Mark |title=Leaders fear crisis sparked by Beirut blast could lead to civil war |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-leaders-fear-crisis-sparked-by-beirut-blast-could-lead-to-civil-war/ |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=16 August 2020 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122155817/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-leaders-fear-crisis-sparked-by-beirut-blast-could-lead-to-civil-war/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also on 14 August, the [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] (UNOCHA) launched a $565 million appeal for donors of aid to victims of the explosion. The UN effort was to focus on: meals, first aid, shelters, and repair of schools.<ref name="emlap">{{cite news |last1=Lederer |first1=Edith M. |title=UN launches $565-million appeal for Beirut explosion victims |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-un-launches-565-million-appeal-for-beirut-explosion-victims/ |agency=The Associated Press |publisher=The Globe and Mail Inc |date=14 August 2020 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020171032/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-un-launches-565-million-appeal-for-beirut-explosion-victims/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the resignation of Prime Minister [[Hassan Diab]] in August 2020, both [[Mustapha Adib (diplomat)|Mustafa Adib]] and [[Saad Hariri]]  failed to form a government. [[Najib Mikati]] was designated to fill the role on 26 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chehayeb|first=Kareem|title=Lebanese Sunni leaders endorse Mikati to form new government|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/25/lebanese-sunni-leaders-endorse-najib-mikati-to-form-new-government|access-date=2021-07-26|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727230558/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/25/lebanese-sunni-leaders-endorse-najib-mikati-to-form-new-government|url-status=live}}</ref> He received 72 votes out of 128 MPs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-26|title=Lebanese billionaire Najib Mikati picked as new PM-designate|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210726-lebanese-mps-pick-najib-mikati-as-new-prime-minister|access-date=2021-07-26|website=France 24|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726145434/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210726-lebanese-mps-pick-najib-mikati-as-new-prime-minister|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 10, 2021, Mikati was able to form a government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Après 13 mois, un gouvernement enfin formé au Liban|url=https://libnanews.com/apres-13-mois-un-gouvernement-enfin-forme-au-liban/|language=fr|website=Libnanews|date=2021-09-10|access-date=2021-10-15|archive-date=2021-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018180457/https://libnanews.com/apres-13-mois-un-gouvernement-enfin-forme-au-liban/|url-status=live}}</ref> He announced that he wanted to ask for help from Arab countries to try to get Lebanon out of the crisis it is going through.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-10|title=Liban: le premier ministre Najib Mikati annonce la composition du nouveau gouvernement|url=https://information.tv5monde.com/info/liban-le-premier-ministre-najib-mikati-annonce-la-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement-423875|access-date=|website=TV 5 Monde|language=fr|archive-date=2021-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018182008/https://information.tv5monde.com/info/liban-le-premier-ministre-najib-mikati-annonce-la-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement-423875|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 October 2021, [[2021 Beirut clashes|clashes erupted in Beirut]] between the Christian militia [[Lebanese Forces]] and [[Hezbollah]] fighters supported by the [[Amal Movement]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Deadly clashes erupt over judge investigating Beirut blast |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20211014-live-at-least-one-dead-in-shooting-at-protest-against-beirut-blast-judge |work=France 24 |date=14 October 2021 |language=en |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-date=5 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805013454/https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20211014-live-at-least-one-dead-in-shooting-at-protest-against-beirut-blast-judge |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2022, Lebanon held its first [[2022 Lebanese general election|election]] since a painful economic crisis dragged it to the brink of becoming a [[failed state]]. Lebanon's crisis has been so severe that more than 80 percent of the population is now considered poor by the [[United Nations]]. In the election Iran-backed Shia Muslim [[Hezbollah]] movement and its allies lost their parliamentary majority. Hezbollah did not lose any of its seats, but its allies lost seats. Hezbollah's ally, President [[Michel Aoun|Michel Aoun's]] [[Free Patriotic Movement]], was no longer the biggest Christian party after the election. A rival Christian party, led by [[Samir Geagea]], with close ties to Saudi Arabia, the [[Lebanese Forces]] (LF), made gains. Sunni [[Future Movement]], led by former prime minister [[Saad Hariri]], did not participate the election, leaving a political vacuum to other Sunni politicians to fill.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chehayeb |first1=Kareem |title=After elections in Lebanon, does political change stand a chance? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/19/what-stands-next-for-lebanon-after-key-elections |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chehayeb |first1=Kareem |title=Hezbollah allies projected to suffer losses in Lebanon elections |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/16/hezbollah-allies-projected-to-lose-seats-lebanese-parliamentary-elections |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |access-date=2022-05-28 |archive-date=2022-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005034800/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/16/hezbollah-allies-projected-to-lose-seats-lebanese-parliamentary-elections |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chehayeb |first1=Kareem |title=Hariri's absence leaves Sunni voters unsure ahead of Lebanon poll |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/4/lebanon-sunni-vote |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en |access-date=2022-05-28 |archive-date=2022-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528120724/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/4/lebanon-sunni-vote |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2023, some consider Lebanon to have become a [[failed state]], suffering from chronic  poverty, economic mismanagement and a banking collapse.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/lebanon-struggles-to-emerge-from-financial-crisis-and-government-corruption |website=pbs.org |access-date=27 February 2024 |title=Lebanon struggles to emerge from financial crisis and government corruption |date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213163019/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/lebanon-struggles-to-emerge-from-financial-crisis-and-government-corruption |url-status=live }}</ref>