Saad Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, commemorated the 21st anniversary of the assassination of his father, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, amidst crowds of people and figures who flocked from various regions to downtown Beirut.
All eyes turned to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, an event with profound political and national dimensions, especially in light of the economic and political crises that Lebanon continues to experience.
The anniversary of Hariri’s assassination this year takes on special significance, as it comes at a pivotal stage in the country’s history, where internal considerations intersect with regional and international transformations.
What does the memory of Rafik Hariri’s assassination represent for the Lebanese people?
Rafik Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005, in a massive bombing that targeted his convoy in downtown Beirut, killing him and several of his companions.
The event was a major shock to Lebanon and the region, and sparked a wave of widespread protests known as the “Independence Uprising,” which later led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon after a presence of nearly three decades.
Since that date, the anniversary of Hariri’s assassination has become an annual political occasion that carries multiple messages: emphasizing the demand for justice, invoking the project of the state and institutions, and reassessing the course of political life in Lebanon.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon and its Impact
In the context of the investigations, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was established to examine the assassination.
After years of trials, the tribunal issued verdicts against members of Hezbollah, in decisions that sparked widespread political controversy both within Lebanon and internationally.
Although the court has officially concluded its work, the issue of justice in the Hariri case remains present in the political discourse, especially among supporters of the Future Movement and its allies, who see the commemoration as a renewal of the pledge to continue demanding the full truth.
Commemorating the anniversary in 2026: A different context and greater challenges
The 2026 anniversary comes amidst a complex Lebanese reality characterized by an unprecedented economic crisis, the collapse of the national currency, declining confidence in political institutions, and the continued sharp division among political forces.
In this context, the commemoration of Rafik Hariri’s assassination becomes an occasion to raise fundamental questions about the future of the Lebanese state, and the possibility of reviving the reform project that Hariri was proposing during his time as Prime Minister.
Political Messages on the 2026 Anniversary
A Message on the Concept of the State
Rafik Hariri’s name is invoked as a symbol of Lebanon’s post-civil war reconstruction and a project to rebuild state institutions. Therefore, commemorating his assassination in 2026 includes renewed calls to strengthen state sovereignty and ensure that weapons are solely in the hands of the state.
Reorganizing the Sunni political landscape
After the Future Movement distanced itself from direct political participation at certain stages, the Hariri anniversary represents an opportunity to regroup the Sunni popular base and reignite the debate about its role in the national equation.
Regional Messages
Rafik Hariri’s name has always been associated with close ties to influential Arab and Western countries. Therefore, the commemoration also carries external dimensions, given the redrawing of alliances in the Middle East.
Between Memory and the Future: What After 21 Years?
More than two decades after the assassination, the question remains: Has Lebanon truly changed since 2005?
Some observers believe that the assassination of Rafik Hariri was a pivotal turning point that ended one phase and opened another, while others believe that the current Lebanese crisis reflects the continuation of the same structural problems, albeit in different forms.
The commemoration of Rafik Hariri’s assassination in 2026 is not merely an annual event, but a political and national milestone reflecting the depth of the challenges facing Lebanon. While the Lebanese remember a man whose name is synonymous with reconstruction and economic liberalization, the greatest challenge remains translating this symbolism into practical steps that restore the state’s presence and prestige.
As regional transformations continue, Rafik Hariri’s name will remain present in Lebanese discourse, not only as a former prime minister, but as a symbol of a period that continues to cast a shadow over the country’s present and future.
