On 14 February 2005, 20 years ago, the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad collaborated with Lebanon’s Hezbollah to assassinate Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Their goal was not only to kill him but to kill his vision of a sovereign Lebanon free from Syrian and Iranian influence. To them, it wasn't personal, but they could simply not tolerate a free Lebanon.
His murder dealt a profound blow to Lebanon, its people, and the broader Arab world. Unlike many of his political allies and adversaries, Hariri didn’t come from a military or political background. Instead of gunning for war, he advocated for peace, education and moderation.
He not only strove to repair Lebanon’s destroyed infrastructure following Israel’s 2006 war but also its divided society. To make this happen, he leveraged his strong connections across the globe with friends in both the East and West.
In order to realise his vision for a stable and prosperous Lebanon, he had to make several compromises on the way, but this was not enough for his enemies—most notably Bashar al-Assad—who were relentless in their mission to obstruct his vision. They resorted to blackmail, threats, and intimidation until they ultimately decided to assassinate him.
