Tony Frangieh
Encyclopedia
Antoine Frangieh was a Lebanese
politician and militia leader during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War
.
then in Beirut
, the latter from 1958 to 1960. He was furthering his study before his death.
On 25 October 1970, he succeeded his father, Suleiman Frangieh
, as a member of the Lebanese Parliament
for Zgharta
, following his father's election to the Presidency. He was also appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in his father's government.
, also known as the Zghorta Liberation Army, under the command of Tony Frangieh. The Marada mainly operated out of Tripoli
and northern Lebanon, the base of the Frangieh clan.
The Lebanese Civil War witnessed many shifting alliances where the allies of today became the enemies of tomorrow. One such falling out occurred between two of the leading Maronite clans, the Frangiehs and the Gemayels. The Frangiehs, who were close to Syria
, were critical of Phalangist Kataeb Regulatory Forces
' militia leader Bachir Gemayel
's growing alliance with Israel
. Militiamen from the Phalange RF and Marada also clashed over protection rackets.
This conflict led to the murder of Tony Frangieh, his wife, Vera el-Kordahi,and his four year old daughter Jihane, (his son, Suleiman II
was at Beirut
during the murder) by Phalangist militiamen.
On the morning of 13 June 1978 at 4am, a Phalange RF 600-men squad
led by Samir Geagea
and Elie Hobeika
attacked Tony Frangieh’s mansion in an attempt to eliminate the Frangieh Clan, Tony Frangieh would be murdered after the assault. Hundreds of both sides were killed in the assassination attempt, but no official investigation was ever made to find out who killed the Frangieh family. Each of Hobeika and Geagea would later accuse the other of the killing and deny any responsibility themselves. Suleiman Frangieh
was left as head of the Marada Brigade
.
Suleiman Frangieh never vowed revenge. As he stated in a documentary on a Lebanese political channel called 'OTV
', "That was the past and it must be forgotten, I do not seek revenge because God is the only judge, thus their conscience will haunt them for the rest of their lives."
Many commentators consider the murder of Tony Frangieh to be one of the factors in the longevity of the Lebanese Civil War
and as the starting point of a deep divide between Lebanese Christians.
and Jihane, with Vera el-Kordahi, whom he married in 1962. His son Suleiman first became a Minister of Public Health at the age of 22, and he recently held the ministry of Interior from 2004 to 2005). He is known to have served with the Marada Brigade
in the 1980s.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
politician and militia leader during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
.
Education and early political career
Frangieh was educated at the College Des Frères, first in TripoliTripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
then in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, the latter from 1958 to 1960. He was furthering his study before his death.
On 25 October 1970, he succeeded his father, Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Kabalan Frangieh, last name also spelled Frangié, Franjieh, or Franjiyeh , was President of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976...
, as a member of the Lebanese Parliament
Parliament of Lebanon
The Parliament of Lebanon is the national parliament of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year terms in multi-member constituencies, apportioned among Lebanon's diverse Christian and Muslim denominations. Lebanon has universal adult suffrage...
for Zgharta
Zgharta
Zgharta, or Zghorta is a large town in North Lebanon, with an estimated population of around 70,000.Zgharta is about 150 metres above sea level and lies between the rivers of Jouit and Rashein...
, following his father's election to the Presidency. He was also appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in his father's government.
Civil war
In the early 1970s, when factions within Lebanon started to form militias, the Frangieh clan formed the Marada BrigadeMarada Brigade
The Marada Movement is a Lebanese political party and a former militia active during the Lebanese civil war, named after the legendary Syriac Marada or Mardaites warriors of the early Middle Ages...
, also known as the Zghorta Liberation Army, under the command of Tony Frangieh. The Marada mainly operated out of Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
and northern Lebanon, the base of the Frangieh clan.
The Lebanese Civil War witnessed many shifting alliances where the allies of today became the enemies of tomorrow. One such falling out occurred between two of the leading Maronite clans, the Frangiehs and the Gemayels. The Frangiehs, who were close to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, were critical of Phalangist Kataeb Regulatory Forces
Kataeb Regulatory Forces
The Kataeb Regulatory Forces – KRF or RF , Forces Regulatoires du Kataeb in French were the military wing of the right-wing Lebanese Christian Kataeb Party, otherwise known as the Phalange, from 1961 to 1977...
' militia leader Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel
Bachir Gemayel was a Lebanese politician, militia commander, and president-elect...
's growing alliance with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Militiamen from the Phalange RF and Marada also clashed over protection rackets.
This conflict led to the murder of Tony Frangieh, his wife, Vera el-Kordahi,and his four year old daughter Jihane, (his son, Suleiman II
Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.
Suleiman Tony Franjieh , born on November 18, 1965 in Zgharta, Lebanon is the current leader of the Marada Movement and a Member of Parliament for the Maronite Catholic seat of Zgharta-Zawyie, in North Lebanon...
was at Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
during the murder) by Phalangist militiamen.
On the morning of 13 June 1978 at 4am, a Phalange RF 600-men squad
led by Samir Geagea
Samir Geagea
Samir Farid Geagea , born October 25, 1952, is a Lebanese politician. He is also a senior figure in the March 14 Alliance, alongside Saad Hariri and Amine Gemayel....
and Elie Hobeika
Elie Hobeika
Elie Hobeika was a Lebanese Phalangist and Lebanese Forces militia commander during the Lebanese Civil War, and former MP...
attacked Tony Frangieh’s mansion in an attempt to eliminate the Frangieh Clan, Tony Frangieh would be murdered after the assault. Hundreds of both sides were killed in the assassination attempt, but no official investigation was ever made to find out who killed the Frangieh family. Each of Hobeika and Geagea would later accuse the other of the killing and deny any responsibility themselves. Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Frangieh
Suleiman Kabalan Frangieh, last name also spelled Frangié, Franjieh, or Franjiyeh , was President of Lebanon from 1970 to 1976...
was left as head of the Marada Brigade
Marada Brigade
The Marada Movement is a Lebanese political party and a former militia active during the Lebanese civil war, named after the legendary Syriac Marada or Mardaites warriors of the early Middle Ages...
.
Suleiman Frangieh never vowed revenge. As he stated in a documentary on a Lebanese political channel called 'OTV
Orange TV
OTV is a publicly-traded television station in Lebanon.It began broadcasting on July 20, 2007 on the Arabsat satellite, on the 11823MHz frequency. OTV Launched officially in 2008 after a testing period of almost six months. OTV now covers the world through different broadcasting channels for...
', "That was the past and it must be forgotten, I do not seek revenge because God is the only judge, thus their conscience will haunt them for the rest of their lives."
Many commentators consider the murder of Tony Frangieh to be one of the factors in the longevity of the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
and as the starting point of a deep divide between Lebanese Christians.
Personal life
Frangieh had two children, Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.Suleiman Frangieh, Jr.
Suleiman Tony Franjieh , born on November 18, 1965 in Zgharta, Lebanon is the current leader of the Marada Movement and a Member of Parliament for the Maronite Catholic seat of Zgharta-Zawyie, in North Lebanon...
and Jihane, with Vera el-Kordahi, whom he married in 1962. His son Suleiman first became a Minister of Public Health at the age of 22, and he recently held the ministry of Interior from 2004 to 2005). He is known to have served with the Marada Brigade
Marada Brigade
The Marada Movement is a Lebanese political party and a former militia active during the Lebanese civil war, named after the legendary Syriac Marada or Mardaites warriors of the early Middle Ages...
in the 1980s.