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| 1976, Feb. 14 |
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| Attempt to revise the political system. Pres. Faranjiyya offered equal representation in Parliament to Muslims. He also promised to do away with the sectarian allocation of jobs in the civil service, except at the highest levels. | 1 |
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| March |
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| COLLAPSE OF THE LEBANESE ARMY, which fell prey to factional disputes and large-scale desertions. The national government lost the only means of enforcing its will. | 2 |
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| May |
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| ENTRY OF SYRIAN TROOPS INTO THE CIVIL WAR. Syria thereby became the paramount power (briefly interrupted, 1982–85) in Lebanese politics. | 3 |
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| May 8 |
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| Election of Ilyas Sarkis as president. | 4 |
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| Sept |
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| Creation of the Lebanese Forces, an overarching militia that comprised all the Christian military factions (excepting that of the Greek Orthodox). | 5 |
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| Oct |
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| Temporary truce in the civil war. The war had so far claimed about 35,000 lives and uprooted a large portion of the population. Lebanese industry was devastated. | 6 |
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