François al-Hajj
François al-Hajj فرنسوا الحاج | |
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| Born | 28 July 1953 Major General |
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Arabic: اللواء فرنسوا الحاج; Arabic pronunciation: [franswaː al-haːʤ], 28 July 1953 – 12 December 2007) was a Lebanese military officer. He was assassinated by a car bomb on 12 December 2007.[1]
Early life and education
Al Hajj was born in the southern Lebanese town of Rmaich on 28 July 1953.[2][3] Hajj entered the military academy in 1972 and graduated in 1975.[2]
Military career
Al Hajj fought against the
Nahr al-Bared camp northern Lebanon during Summer 2007.[4] He was second in command in the Lebanese army and would have been a contender to replace General Sleiman in the event the latter was elected president. .[4] Hajj was promoted to the rank of major general after his killing.[5]
Assassination
On 12 December 2007, Hajj was assassinated through a car bomb blast in the suburb of Baabda.[6][7] Four other people, including his bodyguard, also died in the attack.[3][8] A BMW that contained 35 kilograms of TNT was exploded while Hajj's car drove by.[4] The bomb was triggered by remote control.[8]
Honors and medals
General Francois Hajj received the following honors and medals:[2]
- Medal of War
- Order of the Wounded
- National Cedar Medal of Honor
- Lebanese Order of Merit (3rd degree)
- Order of National Unity
- Order of the Dawn of the South
- Lebanese Order of Merit (1st class)
- National Cedar Medal
- Medal of Loyalty
- Cedar Medal of National Honor
- Commended by the Army Commander over 24 times.
See also
- List of assassinated Lebanese politicians
References
- ^ Ghattas, Sam F. (12 December 2007). "Car bomb kills top Lebanese general". Associated Press.
- ^ a b c اللواء الركن الشهيد فـرنسوا الياس الحاج (in Arabic). Lebanese Army. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
- ^ a b "François al-Hajj assassinated". NOW Lebanon. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "Lebanese General El Haj Killed in Car Bomb Attack". Bloomberg. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ^ Dakroub, Hussein (14 December 2007). "Lebanon bids farewell to army general slain in car bombing". China Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-19-518111-1. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ^ "Hajj latest casualty in string of assassinations". The Daily Star. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ a b Bathish, Hani M. (13 December 2007). "Senior Lebanese Army general assassinated". The Daily Star. Retrieved 21 March 2013.