Article: The tragedy of the Drakkar: a look back at a significant tragedy in French history
October 23, 1983 remains a tragic date in the history of the French army. That day, an attack targeted the French cantonment of the Multinational Security Force in Beirut, Lebanon. The Drakkar building, where the French troops were based, was devastated by an explosion, causing the death of 58 French paratroopers. This event marks the deadliest day for the French army since the end of the Indochina War in 1954.
The context of this attack was that of a Lebanon ravaged by war for eight years. The Multinational Security Force, created by the UN at the request of the Lebanese government, had the mission of protecting the Lebanese civilian population and restoring the authority of President Amine Gemayel and the Lebanese army. It was composed mainly of American, Italian and French troops, with a complement of 2,000 French soldiers, including young people called volunteers.
On October 23, 1983, two attacks hit the FMSB a few minutes apart. A suicide bomber launched a truck bomb into the US military headquarters, killing 241 people, including 220 US marines. Shortly after, the Drakkar building was targeted, causing the death of 58 French soldiers and the wife of the building’s guard with her four children.
Investigations quickly attributed responsibility for these attacks to Lebanese Hezbollah, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks were seen as revenge by Iran against Western supporters of Iraq, then at war with Iran.
Forty years after this tragedy, questions persist about the exact circumstances of the explosion of the Drakkar. The testimonies of survivors and witnesses call into question the official thesis according to which a suicide truck drove into the building. Some claim to have seen no vehicles enter the French cantonment and to have heard no shots before the explosion.
The commemoration of this day is held every year at Les Invalides, in the presence of the Minister of the Armed Forces, to pay tribute to the victims of this tragedy.
The attack on the Drakkar in 1983 remains a significant event in French history, symbolizing the sacrifice and courage of French soldiers engaged in peacekeeping missions abroad. It also raises questions about the truth about the circumstances of the attack and the official version that was presented.
In short, this tragic event reminds us of the importance of the duty to remember and the need to understand the geopolitical issues that contributed to this violence. He also underlines the importance of paying tribute to the victims and supporting French soldiers engaged in peace missions around the world.