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The assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005 caused an earthquake in Lebanon and in the international community. All eyes turned to Syria, which was accused of being the sponsor of this attack. The army of Bashar al-Assad, which occupied part of the country, was forced to retreat amid hostility from the local population. With the withdrawal of the Syrians, Hezbollah lost a long-time ally and protector. More seriously, it also found itself in the dock, suspected of complicity in the murder of Hariri.