Hariri, Geagea, Gemayel mark March 14 anniversary

Former prime minister and al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri on Thursday marked the anniversary of the March 14, 2005 mass rally by describing it as “a revolution of a people and a story of independence.”

“It will remain in our conscience and minds and we will not forget,” Hariri added, in a post on the X platform.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea for his part said “March 14 is not a mere day but rather a path and a journey.”

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel meanwhile said that March 14 is a “very dear occasion” for him, saluting “the martyrs of the second independence” as well as slain Kataeb members Pierre Gemayel and Antoine Ghanem.

“Thanks to your martyrdom, we took the path to freedom, and out of loyalty to your sacrifices we will continue the struggle for a final independence,” Gemayel vowed.

Believed to be the largest rally in Lebanon's history, the March 14, 2005 rally marked one month since the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri and his companions in a massive Beirut bombing. It followed another mass rally organized on March 8, 2005 by Syria’s allies in Lebanon.

The March 14 rally led to the creation of a political coalition dubbed March 14 and is said to have contributed to the eventual withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon.