Palestine Liberation Army

Palestine Liberation Army. The Palestine Liberation Army is the official military wing of the Palestine Liberation Organization, established in the mid-1960s. It was conceived as a conventional standing army for the Palestinian national movement, operating under the political guidance of the PLO Executive Committee. Throughout its history, its brigades have been stationed in and operated from several Arab host countries, primarily Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

History

The formation of the Palestine Liberation Army was mandated by the Palestinian National Council during its inaugural session in East Jerusalem in May 1964, following the creation of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Its early development was heavily supported by the government of Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt, which provided training and bases. Following the Six-Day War in 1967, the PLA's structure and role evolved, with its units becoming more integrated into the armies of host Arab nations while maintaining their Palestinian identity and allegiance to the PLO. The army's presence in Jordan ended after the Black September conflict of 1970-71, after which its main bases shifted to Lebanon and Syria.

Structure and organization

Historically, the Palestine Liberation Army was organized into several numbered infantry brigades, each formally attached to the military of a host Arab state. The main brigades included the Ayn Jalut Brigade in Egypt, the Qadisiyah Brigade in Iraq, and the Hittin Brigade in Syria. Its largest and most significant formation was the Yarmouk Brigade, based in Syria and later active in the Syrian Civil War. The chain of command ran from the PLO Chairman, through the PLA's general command, to brigade commanders, though operational control was often ceded to the host nation's military authorities, particularly in Syria.

Role in conflicts

The Palestine Liberation Army saw its first major combat during the Black September clashes, fighting alongside other Palestinian fedayeen groups against the Jordanian Armed Forces. During the Lebanese Civil War, PLA brigades, especially the Yarmouk Brigade, were active participants, fighting primarily within the Lebanese National Movement and later against Israel during the 1982 Lebanon War and the South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000). In the 21st century, elements of the PLA, operating under Syrian command, have been engaged in the Syrian Civil War, battling opposition groups like Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army in regions such as the Yarmouk Camp and Daraa Governorate.

Relationship with the PLO

The Palestine Liberation Army has always been constitutionally subordinate to the Palestine Liberation Organization, as defined in the Palestinian National Covenant. Its commander-in-chief is the President of the State of Palestine, who also serves as the PLO Chairman. However, practical control has frequently been influenced by the policies of Arab host states, particularly Syria under Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad, leading to periods of strained relations, such as during the Lebanese Civil War when some PLA units acted against PLO preferences. It remains distinct from the security forces of the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Notable commanders

Key military leaders of the Palestine Liberation Army have included its long-time chief of staff, General Wajih al-Madani. Other prominent figures are Muhammad Tariq al-Khadra, who served as a senior commander, and Fathi Saqfalhait, a brigade commander. The political oversight of the force has historically fallen under PLO officials like Yasser Arafat and Farouk Kaddoumi, with its operations often coordinated by the PLO's Palestinian National Security Forces.

Category:Military of Palestine Category:Palestine Liberation Organization Category:1964 establishments in Asia