Battle of East Sidon

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Battle of East Sidon
Part of the Lebanese Civil War
DateMarch 18 – April 24, 1985
Location
Sidon, Palestinian controlled Ain al-Hilweh and Miye ou Miye, and Christian villages east of Sidon
Result

PSP/Amal/PLO victory

  • Displacement of 60,000 Christians
  • Withdrawal of the Lebanese Forces from East Sidon
Belligerents

Forces Libanaises Flag.svg Lebanese Forces





Supported by:

Lebanesearmyfirstflag.png South Lebanon Army

Flag of the Progressive Socialist Party.svg Progressive Socialist Party
Flag of the Amal Movement.svg Amal Movement
Flag of Palestine - short triangle.svg Palestinian Liberation Organization

Supported by:

Contents

Flag of Syria.svg  Syria
Commanders and leaders
Forces Libanaises Flag.svg Samir Geagea
Forces Libanaises Flag.svg Elie Hobeika
Forces Libanaises Flag.svg Nazar Najarian
Flag of the Progressive Socialist Party.svg Walid Jumblatt
Flag of the Amal Movement.svg Nabih Berri
Flag of Palestine - short triangle.svg Yasser Arafat
Units involved

LF: 300-400

Local Christian militiamen
PLO: 2,000+
Casualties and losses
7 killed
15 wounded
At least 60 killed [1]

This battle pitted the newly introduced Christian Lebanese Forces element in the region, which sought to protect local Christians, against the already present Shia Amal Movement, Druze Progressive Socialist Party, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization which received help from Muslim elements of the Lebanese Army.

Background

The Israeli invasion of South Lebanon allowed for the return of Christians to regions they were previously expelled from. As Christians returned to the mountain of the Chouf and its coast, the Lebanese Forces entered these regions where they had no previous presence with the aim of protecting returning Christians from groups such as the Druze Progressive Socialist Party and the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the newly armed Shia Muslim Amal Movement. The Christians had hoped to install themselves more comfortably militarily than they had before as the only Christian dominated faction in the South was that of Antoine Lahad which was joined by Etienne Sakr’s Guardians of the Cedars. [2] Israeli presence in the region allowed for peace to prevail and kept militias from fighting until the Israelis’ withdrawal from the city of Sidon on February 16, 1985. [3] A couple days of days before the clashes would start, the Lebanese Forces would see a new leadership take over as Fouad Abou Nader stepped down to give way to the triumvirate of Samir Geagea, Elie Hobeika, and Karim Pakradouni who had rebelled against Lebanese president Amine Gemayel. Gemayel, who at this point sought close relations with Syria, was a cause of great uneasiness for the Lebanese Forces. [4]

The regional commander of the Lebanese Forces was Nazar Najarian, a high ranking Kataeb party member from Beirut. He led the LF in East Sidon.

Battle

Clashes began on March 18, 1985, following the kidnapping of three Christians prompting fighting between the Palestinian militants in the Ain al Hilweh camp and Miye ou Miye a previously Christian town which had been taken over by the Palestinian Liberation Organization. [5] The use of artillery by the Lebanese Forces against their enemies, mainly the PLO, saw a great amount of casualties on the Leftist Muslim side who had the advantage of greater numbers.

Aftermath

The battle ended with the withdrawal of the Lebanese Forces from the region, which numbered between 300-400 militiamen, announced on April 22, 1985, by Samir Geagea in Karantina, Beirut. This decision came after much discussion between Geagea and Camille Chamoun and the former expressed his belief in the Lebanese state and its army and hope for the possibility for peace in the region. [6] Despite the Christians’ cooperation and wish for peace, the days following the withdrawal of the LF from the region saw the seizing of these villages by the local Muslim/Druze leftist militias of the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist party who looted the homes of the 60,000 fleeing Christians as they fled to Jezzine where the South Lebanon Army was based. [7]

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References

  1. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-04-mn-19625-story.html
  2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1984/01/28/druze-turn-down-proposal-on-officers/86cf78b5-3514-4261-97da-229c5d8901f0/
  3. Fisher, Dan (February 17, 1985). "Israel Quits Sidon in 1st Pullout Step : No Incidents Mar Troop Withdrawal in South Lebanon". Los Angeles Times.
  4. https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP90-00965R000707090002-0.pdf | Los Angeles Times 1985
  5. Fisher, Dan (April 4, 1985). "A Little Fighting, Then a Return to Normal Life : Battle for Sidon a Curious Kind of War". Los Angeles Times.
  6. "A rebel Christian militia chief today announced a unilateral..." UPI.
  7. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-28-mn-21297-story.html