On February 14, 2005, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a massive car bomb attack in Beirut. The bombing, which killed Hariri and 21 others, was a pivotal event in Lebanons history, triggering widespread protests and leading to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country. The attack was blamed on a Syrian-backed faction, though no one was ever definitively convicted. The assassination led to the Cedar Revolution, a series of protests calling for political reform and independence from Syrian influence. Hariris death continues to shape Lebanons political landscape, with the investigation and trial ongoing for years.