General François al-Hajj was born in the southern Lebanese town of Rmaich. He was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2007. The killing reverberated far beyond Lebanon. Condemnations poured in from the United States, Iran, Syria, France and Germany. Factions from across the Lebanese spectrum deplored the assassination, including Hezbollah, which called it a “great national loss.”
July 28, 1953 – December 12, 2007 (aged 54)
- Place of birth: Rmaich – Qadaa of Bint Jbeil
- Place of death – Baabda
- Resting place – Rmaich
- Allegiance – Lebanon
- Service/branch – Lebanese Armed Forces
- Years of service – 1972 - 2007
- Rank – Major General
- Commands held
Commando Regiment (1996 - 2002)
Third Intervention Regiment (1992 - 1996)
Third Intervention Regiment (1992 - 1996)
- Battles/wars
Operation Dinnieh
Liberation War
Israeli occupation in South Lebanon
He entered the military academy in 1972, graduating in 1975. He fought against the Israeli occupation in South Lebanon and was then transferred to head positions north of the Litani during the 1980s. In 1988-89 he fought against Syrian forces assaulting the “free zones” of West Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, he also battled the Lebanese Forces militia. In addition, General Hajj, led the Lebanese Army operation in Dinnieh during 2000. He gained recognition as a brilliant commander during the 15-week operation against Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared camp northern Lebanon during Summer 2007. He was a supporter of General Michel Aoun, a Catholic Maronite, that in 2006 allied with Hezbollah to push for a strategy of "war against corruption".
General Francois Hajj received the following honors and medals:
Medal of War
Order of the Wounded
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
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