Beirut 1958: How America’s wars in the Middle East began

On July 15, 1958, U.S. Marines assaulted the beach in Beirut, Lebanon. The amphibious attack was the first combat operation in the Middle East by American troops. It followed months of intrigue, espionage and conspiracy leading to a bloody coup in Baghdad, Iraq the day before the Marines landed.  Now more than 60 years later, the United States is engaged in multiple combat operations across the region — seemingly endless wars.

In his new book, “Beirut 1958,” Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel tells the story of the mission and draws lessons on how to better deal with future challenges in the region. On November 13, the Center for Middle East Policy hosted the launch of “Beirut 1958,” featuring a discussion with Riedel and moderated by Senior Fellow Suzanne Maloney. Following the discussion, the participants answered questions from the audience.