1958 Lebanon crisis facts for kids
The 1958 Lebanon crisis was a big political problem in Lebanon. It happened because of disagreements between different groups, especially Christians and Muslims. The United States military got involved to help the Lebanese government. This help lasted about three months until Lebanon's President, Camille Chamoun, finished his time in office. American and Lebanese forces successfully took control of the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport. Once the crisis was over, the United States left.
Quick facts for kids 1958 Lebanon crisis |
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| Part of the Arab Cold War | |||||||
 American Marine in a foxhole outside Beirut |
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Contents
Why the Crisis Started
In July 1958, Lebanon faced the risk of a civil war. This was due to strong disagreements between Maronite Christians and Muslims.
Rising Tensions in Lebanon
Problems with Egypt had grown in 1956. At that time, Lebanon's Christian President, Camille Chamoun, was friendly with Western countries. He did not cut ties with the Western powers that attacked Egypt during the Suez Crisis. This made Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser very angry.
These tensions got worse when President Chamoun seemed to support the Baghdad Pact. This was a group of countries allied with the West. Nasser believed this pact was a threat to his idea of Arab nationalism, which aimed to unite Arab nations. Because of this, Egypt and Syria joined together to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). Lebanon's Sunni Prime Minister, Rashid Karami, supported Nasser in both 1956 and 1958.
Different Views for Lebanon's Future
Many Lebanese Muslims wanted their country to join the new United Arab Republic. However, Christians wanted Lebanon to stay allied with Western countries. A Muslim uprising began, and it was thought that the UAR was sending weapons through Syria. President Chamoun complained about this to the United Nations Security Council. The United Nations sent inspectors, but they reported that they did not find much proof of UAR involvement.
Then, a pro-Western government in Iraq was overthrown in the 14 July Revolution. This, along with the problems inside Lebanon, led President Chamoun to ask the U.S. for help.
Operation Blue Bat: US Steps In
United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to help. On July 15, 1958, he approved "Operation Blue Bat." This was the first time the Eisenhower Doctrine was used. This doctrine said that the U.S. would step in to protect governments it felt were threatened by international communism. The main goal was to support President Camille Chamoun's pro-Western government. They also wanted to protect it from internal opposition and threats from Syria and Egypt.
How the Operation Worked
The plan was to first take control of Beirut International Airport, which is south of the city. Then, they would secure the Port of Beirut and the roads leading into the city.
More than 14,000 soldiers were part of this operation. This included 8,509 soldiers from the United States Army and 5,670 officers and men from the United States Marine Corps. They were supported by 70 ships and 40,000 sailors. The U.S. forces left Lebanon on October 25, 1958.
Finding a Solution
President Eisenhower sent a diplomat named Robert D. Murphy to Lebanon. Murphy helped both sides of the conflict find a solution. They agreed to elect a moderate Christian general, Fuad Chehab, as the next President. This allowed Chamoun to stay in power until his term ended on September 22.
After the crisis ended, Prime Minister Rashid Karami formed a new government. This government aimed to bring different groups in Lebanon together.
See also
In Spanish: Crisis del Líbano de 1958 para niños
