Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon (1982–2000)

Today part of Lebanon The Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon took place after Israel invaded Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War and subsequently retained its forces to support the Christian South Lebanon Army in Southern Lebanon . In 1982, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and allied Free Lebanon Army Christian militias seized large sections of Lebanon, including the capital of Beirut , amid the hostilities of the wider Lebanese Civil War . Later, Israel withdrew from parts of the occupied area between 1983 and 1985, but remained in partial control of the border region known as the South Lebanon Security Belt , initially in coordination with the self-proclaimed Free Lebanon State , which executed a limited authority over portions of southern Lebanon until 1984, and later with the South Lebanon Army (transformed from Free Lebanon Army), until the year 2000. Israel's stated purpose for the Security Belt was to create a space separating its northern border towns from terrorists residing in Lebanon. During the stay in the security belt, the IDF held many positions and supported the SLA. The SLA took over daily life in the security zone, initially as the official force of the Free Lebanon State and later as an allied militia. Notably, the South Lebanon Army controlled the prison in Khiam . In addition, United Nations (UN) forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were deployed to the security belt (from the end of Operation Litani in 1978). The strip was a few kilometres wide, and consisted of about 10% of the total territory of Lebanon, which housed about 150,000 people who lived in 67 villages and towns made up of Shiites , Maronites and Druze (most of whom lived in the town of Hasbaya ). In the central zone of the Strip was the Maronite town Marjayoun , which was the capital of the security belt. Residents remaining in the security zone had many contacts with Israel, many of whom have worked there and received various services from Israel.

1985–2000 military occupation The Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon formally began in 1985 and ended in 2000 as part of the South Lebanon conflict . In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in response to a spate of attacks carried out from Lebanese territory by Palestinian militants , triggering the 1982 Lebanon War . The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and allied Christian Lebanese militias subsequently seized large parts of Lebanon, including the capital city of Beirut , amid the hostilities of the wider Lebanese Civil War . Israel later withdrew from most of the occupied territory between 1983 and 1985, but retained control over areas along the Israel–Lebanon border that would later comprise the Israeli "Security Zone" in coordination with the separatist State of Free Lebanon , which collapsed in 1984. From 1985 onwards, Israel supported the South Lebanon Army (SLA), the Lebanese Christian quasi-military of the collapsed Free Lebanon State, against Hezbollah and other Muslim militants in most of Southern Lebanon ; Israel's overall stated purpose for the Security Zone was to create a buffer separating Israeli civilians in northern border towns from Lebanon-based terrorists. In 1993, it was estimated that there were 1,000–2,000 Israeli troops and 2,300 SLA troops active in the area. After the end of Israel's Operation Litani in 1978, the areas of Southern Lebanon that would later comprise Israel's Security Zone also hosted United Nations peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). While the IDF oversaw the region's general security, the SLA managed most of the occupied territory's ground affairs, including the operation of the Khiam detention centre . The occupied strip of territory was ten-kilometers-wide except for a salient which reached north to Jezzine and the Litani River and put Tyre and Sidon as well as the Beqaa valley within artillery range. The total area covered was 900 square kilometres (350 sq mi), and comprised approximately 10% of Lebanon's total land area. It was home to around 180,000 people – 6% of the total population of Lebanon – living in around a hundred villages and small towns. Lebanon, battleground of the Middle East. Gives the number of small towns and villages as 150

1982–2000 military occupation The Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon lasted for eighteen years, from 1982 until 2000. In June 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in response to attacks from southern Lebanon by Palestinian militants . The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) occupied the southern half of Lebanon as far as the capital city Beirut , together with allied Maronite Christian paramilitaries involved in the Lebanese Civil War . The IDF left Beirut on 29 September 1982, but continued to occupy the country's southern half. Amid rising casualties from guerrilla attacks, the IDF withdrew south to the Awali river on 3 September 1983. From February to April 1985, the IDF carried out a phased withdrawal to a " Security Zone " along the border , which it said was to protect northern Israel. From this point onwards, Israel supported the South Lebanon Army (SLA), the Lebanese Christian paramilitary, against Hezbollah and other Muslim militants. They fought a guerrilla war in Southern Lebanon throughout the occupation. The Security Zone covered about 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi), roughly 10% of Lebanon's land area. It ran the length of the Israel-Lebanon border and reached between 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to 20 kilometres (12 mi) deep into Lebanon. It was home to about 180,000 people – 6% of Lebanon's population – living in around a hundred villages and small towns. In 1993, it was estimated that there were 1,000–2,000 Israeli troops and 2,300 SLA troops in the zone. While the IDF oversaw the region's general security, the SLA managed most of the occupied territory's affairs, including the operation of the Khiam detention centre . The SLA also controlled an enclave around Jezzine , just north of the Security Zone. Most of Israel's Security Zone lay within the area patrolled by United Nations peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who had been deployed there since Israel's 1978 invasion . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). Lebanon, battleground of the Middle East.