Lebanon War (1982)

Lebanon War (1982)
Conflict	1982 Lebanon War
Partof	Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Lebanese Civil War
Date	6 June – September 1982 (major invasion), occupation until 2000
Place	Lebanon, including Beirut, Sidon, Tyre, Baalbek
Result	Israeli invasion; PLO withdrawal from Lebanon; multinational force deployment; prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon

Lebanon War (1982)

The 1982 Lebanon War was a large-scale Israeli military invasion of Lebanon launched in June 1982, aimed principally at expelling the Palestine Liberation Organization from southern Lebanon and reshaping Lebanese politics. The campaign involved complex interactions among Israel Defense Forces, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Syrian forces of the Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanese militias such as the Kataeb Party, the Amal Movement, and the Lebanese National Movement, and international actors including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The war precipitated the Siege of Beirut, the assassination of Bachir Gemayel, massacres in Sabra and Shatila, and long-term Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon.

Background and Causes

The invasion followed years of cross-border hostilities involving the PLO operating from bases in southern Lebanon after the Black September events and the displacement from Jordan in 1970. Lebanon had been embroiled in the Lebanese Civil War since 1975, with factions including the Phalange (Kataeb), Amal Movement, and leftist coalitions such as the Lebanese National Movement vying for power. Syria intervened in 1976 with its Arab Deterrent Force and maintained forces in Lebanon, clashing periodically with the PLO and Israeli Defense Forces. Israeli security policy under Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Defense Minister Ariel Sharon responded to cross-border attacks such as the Coastal Road massacre and sought to weaken the PLO and its Lebanese allies while supporting allied Christian militias including the Kataeb led politically by Bachir Gemayel.

Course of the Invasion and Major Battles

On 6 June 1982, following an assassination attempt on Israeli ambassador Shlomo Argov, Operation Peace for Galilee commenced with massive Israeli air strikes and a ground invasion advancing through southern Lebanon along key axes toward Beirut. Initial operations targeted Tyre, Sidon, and the Sidon-Beirut corridor, encountering resistance from units of the PLO and Syrian Army detachments. The advance culminated in the Siege of Beirut, where protracted Israeli bombing and shelling sought to isolate PLO leadership under Yasser Arafat. Major confrontations included the Battle of Bint Jbeil and clashes around the Bekaa Valley and Aley District, where Israeli forces engaged Syrian armored brigades and Lebanese militias allied to Damascus. International mediation led to an agreement for PLO evacuation supervised by a multinational force including France, the United States, and Italy; the PLO withdrew from Beirut in August 1982. During the aftermath of the siege, the assassination of President-elect Bachir Gemayel on 14 September triggered retaliatory operations by allied militias, culminating in the massacres at Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

International and Political Reactions

The invasion provoked widespread diplomatic responses. The United States initially supported Israeli security concerns while facilitating negotiated PLO withdrawal and deploying a multinational force to Beirut with contributions from France, Italy, and later Britain. The United Nations Security Council passed resolutions demanding ceasefires and withdrawal, including UNSCR 519 and earlier texts. The Soviet Union condemned the invasion and increased support for Syria and Lebanese leftist factions, while Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia issued public protests and engaged in diplomatic initiatives. Global public opinion saw large protests in Western Europe, North America, and the Arab World, with human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting abuses and pressing for investigations.

Israeli Occupation and Aftermath in Lebanon

Following the PLO evacuation, Israel maintained a security zone in southern Lebanon and supported the South Lebanon Army militia under Saad Haddad and later Antoine Lahad. Israeli forces occupied parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon intermittently, with the multinational force tasked with protecting the Lebanese Government and facilitating internal security. Syrian forces reasserted influence in parts of Lebanon, culminating in the Syrian occupation of Lebanon and the eventual extension of Syrian political control. Lebanese politics were reshaped by the assassination of Bachir Gemayel, the presidency of Amine Gemayel, and continued sectarian strife. Israeli withdrawal from most of Lebanon left a protracted insurgency led by Hezbollah, formed with ideological roots in the Iranian Revolution and supported by Iran.

Humanitarian Impact and Casualties

The conflict caused substantial civilian and combatant casualties, widespread displacement, and damage to infrastructure, particularly in Beirut and southern towns such as Tyre and Sidon. Estimates of fatalities vary; thousands of Lebanese civilians, PLO fighters, Syrian soldiers, and Israeli personnel were killed or wounded. The sieges, bombardments, and subsequent unrest produced large refugee movements toward Tripoli and the Bekaa region. Humanitarian organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations Relief and Works Agency provided assistance amid contested access and security challenges.

Legal Issues and Investigations

The invasion and events such as the Sabra and Shatila massacres prompted international inquiries and legal scrutiny. The Kahan Commission in Israel investigated Israeli responsibility and found Ariel Sharon indirectly responsible, leading to his resignation as Defense Minister. The United Nations and human rights groups sought investigations into violations of humanitarian law, raising questions under the Geneva Conventions about the protection of civilians and the conduct of occupying powers. Legal debates encompassed allegations of war crimes, command responsibility, and the legality of interventions, spurring ongoing litigation and scholarly analysis in international criminal law and transitional justice forums.

Category:Lebanese Civil War Category:Conflicts involving Israel Category:1982 in Lebanon