son Saad al-Hariri. Rafic al-Hariri (born November 1, 1944, Sidon, Lebanon—died February 14, 2005, Beirut) was a Lebanese businessman, politician, and philanthropist who, as prime minister of Lebanon (1992–98; 2000–04), was instrumental in rebuilding the country after its protracted civil war. His assassination in 2005 fomented political ...