Rafiq Hariri was a prominent Lebanese politician and businessman, born on July 1, 1944, in Sidon, Lebanon. He made his fortune in the construction industry and became a key figure in the reconstruction of Beirut after the Lebanese Civil War. Hariri served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon multiple times during the late 1990s and early 2000s, advocating for economic reform and national unity. On February 14, 2005, Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb attack in Beirut, an event that sparked widespread protests and led to significant political changes in Lebanon. His death raised international concerns about Syria's influence in Lebanese affairs, prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the assassination.