A timeline of the life of Ariel Sharon

February 1928: Born to Russian immigrants in farming community of Kfar Malal north of Tel Aviv.

1948: Serves with distinction in Israel's war of independence and is severely wounded in battle.

1953: Heads Unit 101, a force carrying out reprisals for Palestinian attacks. After slaying of Israeli woman and her two children, Sharon's troops blow up more than 40 houses in Qibya, a village in Jordanian-ruled West Bank. 1967 Receives broad praise for command of armored division in Israel's Six-Day War.

1973 Leads Israeli troops across Suez Canal into Egypt during Yom Kippur war.

1977-81 As Menachem Begin's agriculture minister, begins push to build dozens of Jewish settlements in West Bank and Gaza Strip.

April 25, 1982 As defense minister, overrides resistance from Jewish settlers in Yamit settlement during Israeli withdrawal from Sinai and has their homes bulldozed.

June-September 1982 Engineers Israel's invasion of Lebanon to drive Palestinian fighters from Israel's northern border. Loses job as defense minister after Israeli-allied Christian militia kills hundreds of Palestinians at refugee camps in west Beirut.

Sept. 28, 2000 As opposition leader, Sharon visits Jerusalem's Temple Mount to emphasize Israel's claim of sovereignty. Feb. 6, 2001 Wins landslide in election for prime minister.

2005 Cease-fire in Palestinian uprising. Begins unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and small part of West Bank.

Jan. 4, 2006: Suffers

massive stroke and falls into coma. -- AP