23 oct. 1975 - Start of the Battle of the Hotels

Description:

The first rounds were exchanged on October 23, 1975, during the final phase of the Battle for the Kantari District, when a detachment of fighters – nicknamed the "Hawks of Zeidani" – from the Al-Mourabitoun, the militia of the Independent Nasserite Movement (INM) led by Ibrahim Kulaylat occupied the empty Murr Tower after they managed to dislodge its Christian Phalange Kataeb Regulatory Forces (KRF) defenders,[2] and began firing rockets and mortars from the upper floors into the Christian-held neighborhoods below.[3] During the battle, the Al-Mourabitoun reportedly committed some 200–300 fighters,[4] even though other sources cite a higher number of 500.[5] The majority of the buildings were usually defended by an even smaller number of fighters, with no more than 60 militiamen participating on any given day.