1982 Lebanon War

Guide Note

The 1982 Lebanon War, also known as the Operation Peace of the Galilee, was a brutal and bloody three-month conflict between Israeli forces and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Syrian and Muslim Lebanese forces.

Fast Facts

1. An estimated 10,000 people were killed in the conflict
2. Israeli forces invaded Southern Lebanon on June 6, 1982
3. Several bombings of Beirut caused heavy casualties and severe damage to the city
4. Over 20,000 PLO members were expelled from Lebanon
5. The Israeli Air Force shot down 86 Syrian aircraft in a battle between 150 jet fighters

Israeli forces invaded Southern Lebanon in response to the attempted assassination of Israel's ambassador to England, Shlomo Argov. Although official Israeli reports attributed the assassination attempt to a dissident Palestinian group, a series of violent conflicts in the area and Israel's fear of increasing Syrian influence in Lebanon led them to launch an attack on PLO forces in Lebanon.

The war was a mixed success for Israel. On one hand, it reduced the violence along the border with Lebanon and weakened Syria's military significantly. However, many also believe that the war solidified Iranian and Syrian support for Hezbollah.