Missak Donanian, a Christian militiaman from the Lebanese Forces in Burj Hammoud, poses for a photo in 1987 reminiscent of actor Sylvester Stallone in his role as Rambo. (Credit: Patrick Baz/Courtesy of the photographer)
It’s hard to sum up 15 years of civil war in Lebanon in just a few photos — especially when so much has already been said and repeated about a conflict that erupted exactly half a century ago.For 15 years, the war invaded the daily lives of Lebanese people, young and old, civilians and militiamen, without distinction.There are the iconic images: the battle for the Holiday Inn, the 1982 departure of Yasser Arafat’s feday'een from Beirut and Bachir Gemayel being cheered by crowds after his election as president. And there are the unbearable ones — photos of war in all its horror, of bodies strewn in the streets, of civilians begging fighters for their lives.But there are also photos that tell a quieter story, one of everyday life continuing between the bombs. Over 15 years of war, people had to move forward — to get married, have...
It’s hard to sum up 15 years of civil war in Lebanon in just a few photos — especially when so much has already been said and repeated about a conflict that erupted exactly half a century ago.For 15 years, the war invaded the daily lives of Lebanese people, young and old, civilians and militiamen, without distinction.There are the iconic images: the battle for the Holiday Inn, the 1982 departure of Yasser Arafat’s feday'een from Beirut and Bachir Gemayel being cheered by crowds after his election as president. And there are the unbearable ones — photos of war in all its horror, of bodies strewn in the streets, of civilians begging fighters for their lives.But there are also photos that tell a quieter story, one of everyday life continuing between the bombs. Over 15 years of war, people had to move forward — to get married,...