Lebanon crisis of 1958
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The Lebanon crisis of 1958 was a Lebanese political crisis caused by political and religious tensions in the country.
Lebanese Muslims pushed the government to join the newly created United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria), while Christians wanted to keep Lebanon aligned with Western Powers. A Muslim Rebellion and the toppling of a pro-Western government in Iraq caused the Lebanese President Camille Chamoun to call for U.S. assistance.
U.S. intervention occurred on July 15, 1958 by 5,000 troops of the United States Marine Corps, following the request for assistance the day before by President Chamoun. The revolt was put down.
Tensions with Egypt had escalated earlier in 1956. The pro-western Chamoun, a Christian, did not break the diplomatic relations with Western powers that attacked Egypt during the Suez Crisis, angering Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Lebanese Sunni Muslim Prime Minister Rashid Karami supported Nasser in 1956 and 1958. Karami formed a national reconciliation government after the 1958 crisis ended.