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Revision as of 02:52, 22 March 2006 by Maradite (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Lebanese Front was a right-wing coalition of mainly Christian parties during the Lebanese Civil War. It was intended to act as a counter force to the Lebanese National Movement (LNM) of Kamal Jumblatt and others.
Its main participants were the Kataeb Party (Phalange) of Pierre Gemayel, Suleiman Franjieh and his Marada Brigade, the National Liberal Party (NLP) of Camille Chamoun and the Guardians of the Cedars of Etienne Saqr. The founders of the coalition worked fine together for many years until the events of 1978.
Suleiman Franjieh's Marada ended its connection with the Lebanese Front in 1978, the year his son Tony and his family were killed. The Lebanese Forces unsuccessfully tried to take over the Marada by force. The Lebanese Forces violently took over their allies' militia component, the Ahrar Militia (The Tigers) in the early 1980's. The Ahrar, which led by the Chamoun family ended their connection with the Lebanese Front after the violent incident. There were times where Bashir Gemayel would exercise his powers over his brother Amin and his men.
The Lebanese Front was a lose political coalition, The members of this coalition broke off as Bashir Gemayel tried to absorb all members under his wing which lead to bloody attacks on his allies. Many believe this caused the breakup of the United Christian Lebanese Front as Bashir Gemayel also had fall outs with the prominent christian families which led to violence. The members of this coalition created a strong political alliance before the breakup.
As the Lebanese Forces developed, under the command of Bashir Gemayel, later in 1986 Samir Geagea, into one of the strongest militias of the war until Israel stopped funding them with arms in the early mid 80's. Then Samir Geagea led them to war with the General Michel Aoun and the Lebanses Army which led to the disarmament of the Lebanese Forces. The Lebanese Forces is presently a political party in the Lebanese Parliament. The LF currently hold 5 seats (they control 4.0% in parliament) of the 128 seats available in the Lebanese Parliament.
In the last few years there have been continual attempts to rebuild the coalitian that existed before the incidents of 1978.
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