In 1976, the Syrian army rolled into Lebanon to quash what was then a yearlong civil war. Now, 29 years later, the Syrians say they will roll the last of their army and intelligence personnel out of Lebanon by April 26.

“It's a categorical total withdrawal,” says Imad Moustapha, Syria's ambassador to the United States. “We are not leaving a single Syrian soldier in Lebanon.”

The decision to withdraw from Lebanon came after strong international pressure was placed on Syria following the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The killing sparked anti-Syrian protests in the streets of Beirut.