February 14, 2005
Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is killed by a massive car bomb blast along with 22 others in Beirut. The attack sparks anti-Syrian rallies, piling pressure on Syria to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon. The last Syrian soldiers leave Lebanon on April 26. Saad Hariri, a business graduate from Georgetown University in Washington, is propelled into the spotlight as his father’s successor.
June 2005
An anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad Hariri wins control of parliament after elections. Hariri ally Fouad Siniora becomes prime minister.
June 8, 2009
Lebanon’s anti-Syrian parliamentary majority declared winner of parliamentary election. Rafik Hariri’s son, Saad Hariri, is named prime minister-designate on June 27.
November 9, 2009
Saad Hariri forms national unity government in which pro-Syrian militant group Hezbollah has two ministers in the 30-member Cabinet.
January 12, 2011
Hezbollah and its allies resign from Saad Hariri’s Cabinet to protest the Tribunal’s investigation, causing the Lebanese government to collapse.
August 8, 2014
Saad Hariri returns to Beirut after a three-year long security-imposed exile.
November 3, 2016
Saad Hariri asked to form a new government, after winning support of a majority of MPs, including influential Speaker Nabih Berri, who was vehemently opposed to his candidacy.
December 18, 2016
A new 30-member national unity Cabinet headed by Saad Hariri announced.
December 28, 2016
Parliament overwhelmingly approves a national unity Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri. The vote of confidence comes after MPs debate the new government’s policy statement, outlining its priorities for the coming months.
November 4, 2017
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announces his resignation, citing Iran’s “grip” on the country and threats to his life.
Compiled by Gulf News Archives
Rafik Hariri
31 October 1992 to 6 December 1998
23 October 2000 to 21 October 2004
Saad Hariri
9 November 2009 to 13 June 2011
18 December 2016 to November 4, 2017
