1982 Lebanon War facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1982 Lebanon War |
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| Part of Israeli–Palestinian conflict and Lebanese Civil War | |||||||||
 Lebanese troops in Beirut, 1982 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Other armed groups:
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| 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 PKK: Mahsum Korkmaz Ibrahim Kulaylat Others: Muhsin Ibrahim Abbas al-Musawi Ragheb Harb Murat Karayılan Inaam Raad Said Shaaban |
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| 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 |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Israel: 1,216 killed (1982-2000) |
Syrian & Palestinian combatants: See Casualties below. |
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| Civilians: See Casualties below. | |||||||||
The 1982 Lebanon War was a big conflict that happened in Lebanon. It was part of the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the Lebanese Civil War. The war started on June 6, 1982. Israel called its part of the war Operation Peace for Galilee. It is also known as the First Lebanon War.
The war began when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) moved into southern Lebanon. A few days before, on June 3, 1982, someone tried to harm Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov. Israel blamed the PLO for this attack. This event was the main reason Israel decided to invade Lebanon.
Contents
Why the War Started: Main Reasons
The 1982 Lebanon War had two main causes. These reasons led to the conflict.
Palestinian Groups and Attacks
- The PLO was a group that had been carrying out attacks against Israel since the 1960s.
- In 1971, the PLO was forced to leave Jordan. They then set up new bases in southern Lebanon.
- From these bases, the PLO continued to launch attacks, including rocket fire, on Israeli towns.
- In 1981, heavy rocket attacks from the PLO led Israel to strike back with air attacks in Lebanon.
The Ambassador's Shooting
- On June 3, 1982, Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, was shot.
- This attack was carried out by a group called the Abu Nidal Organization.
- Even though another group was responsible, Israel blamed the PLO.
- This shooting was the direct event that caused Israel to invade Lebanon.
Israel started bombing southern Lebanon and Beirut on June 5, 1982. Their goal was to destroy the PLO forces there.
Who Fought in the War?
Many different groups and countries were involved in the 1982 Lebanon War.
Israel and Its Allies
- Israel: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were the main fighting force.
- Lebanese Front: This was a group of mostly Christian Lebanese forces.
- The Phalange was a major part of this group.
- The SLA also fought alongside Israel.
Opposing Forces
- PLO: This Palestinian group was a main target of Israel's invasion.
- Syria: Syria had its own forces in Lebanon and supported the PLO.
- Lebanese National Resistance Front (LNRF): This was a group of Lebanese fighters who opposed Israel and its allies.
- It included groups like the LCP and the PLA-PSP.
- Other Armed Groups: Several other groups also took part in the fighting, such as:
- Amal
- Hezbollah (which formed later during the war)
- The PKK
Key Leaders and Their Roles
Many important people led the different groups during the war.
Israeli Leaders
- Menachem Begin: He was the Prime Minister of Israel.
- Ariel Sharon: He was Israel's Minister of Defense.
- Rafael Eitan: He was the Chief of Staff for the Israeli Army.
PLO and Syrian Leaders
- Yasser Arafat: He was the Chairman of the PLO.
- Hafez al-Assad: He was the President of Syria.
What Happened During the War?
The war lasted for several years, from 1982 to 1985.
Israeli Invasion and Advance
- The Israeli army quickly moved into southern Lebanon.
- They surrounded Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
- The goal was to push the PLO out of Lebanon.
Syrian Involvement
- Syrian forces were already in Lebanon as part of the Lebanese Civil War.
- They fought against the Israeli army, especially in the Bekaa Valley.
- Israel destroyed many Syrian SAM batteries in the Bekaa Valley.
PLO's Departure
- After weeks of fighting, the PLO forces were forced to leave Beirut.
- They were moved out of Lebanon with the help of international forces.
International Peacekeepers
- A Multinational Force (MNF-L) was sent to Lebanon.
- This force included soldiers from America, France, and Italy.
- Their job was to help keep the peace and ensure the PLO left safely.
Results of the War
The 1982 Lebanon War had many important outcomes.
- Israeli Victory: Israel achieved its main military goal of forcing the PLO out of Lebanon.
- Israeli Occupation: Israel occupied the southern part of Lebanon from 1982 to 1985.
- New Conflicts: This occupation led to new fighting, known as the 1982-2000 South Lebanon conflict.
- South Lebanon Army: Israel supported the SLA to help control the area.
- Syrian Influence: Syria's power in Lebanon grew after the war.
- Rise of Hezbollah: The war also led to the creation and growth of Hezbollah, a new armed group in Lebanon.
Images for kids
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The Israeli Merkava Mark I tank was used throughout the First Lebanon War.
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Syrian anti-tank teams used French-made Milan ATGMs during the war in Lebanon in 1982.
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Part of a Syrian SA-6 missile site near the Beirut-Damascus highway in early 1982.
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Lebanese Army APC, Beirut 1982.
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IDF military patrol near Ras Biada, south Lebanon (1986).
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IDF military post Shakuf El-Hardun, south Lebanon (1986).
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IDF military patrol above the Litani river, south Lebanon (1987).
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Beaufort IDF northern military post, south Lebanon (1995).
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IDF military patrol between Aaichiye to Rayhan, south Lebanon (1995).
See also
In Spanish: Guerra del Líbano de 1982 para niños
