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After an increase of Palestinian terrorism the Israeli Defense Forces invaded Lebanon in 1982 and forced the PLO out of Beirut.

 

Video

 

 

Overview

  • Date: 06 Jun – 21 Aug 1982
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Start: Israeli invasion of Lebanon
  • End: Withdrawal of the PLO from Beirut to Tunis

 

Parties & Persons Involved

  • Israel
  • Mainly Christian militias

 

  • PLO
  • Syria
  • Muslim & socialist militias

 

Background

  • Lebanon is instable because of the civil war (1975-1990) between Christian & Muslim militia
  • Syrian forces engage in Lebanon in the role of a “referee” to actually protect own interests
  • PLO controls the south of Lebanon & repeatedly attacks Israel (The PLO is based in Lebanon after they were expelled from Jordan in 1970/71)
  • From 1977: Israel (prime minister Begin) overtly supports the Christian militias & conducts own operations in Lebanon (esp. Operation Litani, 1978)
  • 1st half of 1982: The PLO & other Lebanese groups intensify their terrorist attacks on Israel & Israeli in Europe

 

History

  • Apr – May 1982: PLO intensifies its terrorist operations in Europe & in Lebanon – Israel responds with air strikes against PLO positions in Lebanon
  • 06 Jun 1982: 78,000 Israeli troops are ordered to march into Lebanon
  • 06 – 08 Jun 1982: The IDF moves in 3 directions to central Lebanon & the Bekaa Valley
  • 08 – 09 Jun 1982: After aerial combats with the Syrian air force the Israeli Air Force gains air superiority over Lebanon
  • 09 – 10 Jun 1982: The IDF launch a successful offensive against Syrian forces in the Bekaa Valley
  • 11 Jun 1982: Israeli-Syrian Ceasefire
  • 10 – 14 Jun 1982: Israeli forces engage the PLO & Syrian forces, advance north & encircle Beirut
  • 15 – 24 Jun 1982: Several encounters between the IDF & the PLO
  • 21 Aug 1982: The PLO leaves Beirut for Tunis under the supervision of French paratroopers
  • 25 Jun 1982: Unstable truce with continuous firefights & war crimes by the militias (i.e. massacre by the Phalange militia, 16 & 17 Sep)

 

Consequences & Impact

  • PLO withdraws from Lebanon to Tunis
  • Restructuring of the spheres of influence in Lebanon / Lebanon becomes a Syrian satellite
  • Israel withdraws from central Lebanon (Jan – Jun 1985) & establishes a security zone north of her border (Complete withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000)
  • After the Israeli withdrawal the Lebanese Civil War enters its bloodiest phase with isolated Christian groups & as a result a mass emigration of Christians (approx. 850,000)
  • The Withdrawal of the PLO leaves a power vacuum which is filled by Hezbollah which is supported by Iran & conducts terrorist attacks against Israel