1982 Lebanon War
Part of Israeli–Palestinian conflict and Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese troops in Beirut, 1982
Date 6 June 1982 – June 1985 Location southern Lebanon Result Inconclusive Israeli tactical victories but overall strategic failure Syrian political advantage PLO expulsion from Lebanon Collapse of Maronite–Israeli alliance, failure to achieve Lebanese-Israeli peace Increased Syrian influence in Lebanon Israeli withdrawal to the Israeli security zone in Southern Lebanon Continued warfare in Southern Lebanon between Israel & SLA and Hezbollah Territorial changes Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon (1982–1985). Syrian de facto occupation of Lebanon (1976–2005).
Belligerents
Israel Lebanese Front Phalange al-Tanzim SLA	PLO Syria LNRF LCP PLA-PSP OACL SSNP Other armed groups: Islamic Amal Amal ASALA Al-Tawhid PKK
Commanders and leaders
Israel: Menachem Begin (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon (Ministry of Defence) Rafael Eitan (Army Chief of Staff) David Ivry (Israeli Air Force) Ze'ev Almog (Israeli Sea Corps) Phalange: Bachir Gemayel Fadi Frem Elie Hobeika Al-Tanzim: Fawzi Mahfuz SLA: Saad Haddad	PLO: Yasser Arafat (Chairman of the PLO) Syria: Hafez al-Assad (President) Mustafa Tlass (Minister of Defense) LCP: George Hawi Elias Atallah Amal: Nabih Berri ASALA: Monte Melkonian Hagop Hagopian Kevork Ajemian PKK: Mahsum Korkmaz Ibrahim Kulaylat Others: Muhsin Ibrahim Abbas al-Musawi Ragheb Harb Murat Karayılan Inaam Raad Said Shaaban
Strength
Israel: 78,000 troops 800 tanks 1,500 APCs 634 aircraft LF: 30,000 troops SLA: 5,000 troops 97 tanks	Syria: 22,000 troops 352 tanks 300 APCs 450 aircraft 300 artillery pieces 100 anti-aircraft guns 125 SAM batteries PLO: 15,000 troops 80 tanks 150 APCs 350+ artillery pieces 250+ anti-aircraft guns
Casualties and losses
Israel: 1,216 killed (1982-2000)	Syrian & Palestinian combatants: See Casualties below.
Civilians: See Casualties below.

The 1982 Lebanon war was part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Lebanese Civil War. It began on 6 June 1982. Israel called it Operation Peace for Galilee. It was later known as the Lebanon war or First Lebanon war. The war started when the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) attacked southern Lebanon. On 3 June 1982 the Abu Nadal Organization tried to assassinate Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov. This may have been done to hurt the PLO's reputation. At the time, however, Israel blamed the PLO for the attempt. The shooting of the ambassador was the trigger that caused Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. view more...