South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)

It can also refer to the continuation of conflict in this region, beginning with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operations transfer to South Lebanon, following Black September in the Kingdom of Jordan . Historical tension between Palestinian refugees and Lebanese factions fomented the violent Lebanese internal political struggle between many different factions. In light of this, the South Lebanon conflict can be seen as a part of the Lebanese Civil War . In earlier conflicts prior to the 1982 Israeli invasion , including Operation Litani , Israel attempted to eradicate PLO bases from Lebanon and support Christian Maronite militias. The 1982 invasion resulted in the PLO's departure from Lebanon. The creation of the Security Zone in South Lebanon benefited civilian Israelis, although at great cost to Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. Despite this Israeli success in eradicating PLO bases and its partial withdrawal in 1985, the Israeli invasion increased the severity of conflict with local Lebanese militias and resulted in the consolidation of several local [Shia Muslim]] movements in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and Amal , from a previously unorganized guerrilla movement in the south. Over the years, military casualties of both sides grew higher, as both parties used more modern weaponry, and Hezbollah progressed in its tactics. By the early 1990s, Hezbollah, with support from Syria and Iran, emerged as the leading group and military power, monopolizing guerrilla activity in South Lebanon. By the year 2000, following an election campaign promise, newly-elected Prime Minister Ehud Barak withdrew Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon within the year, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425 , passed in 1978; the withdrawal consequently resulted in the immediate total collapse of the South Lebanon Army . The Lebanese government and Hezbollah still consider the withdrawal incomplete until Israel withdraws from Shebaa Farms . Following the withdrawal, Hezbollah has monopolized its military and civil control of the southern part of Lebanon. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. 2011 . Iran has also played an instrumental role in building up Hezbollah's military capabilities over the years, which enabled the group's impressive military wing to oust Israel from south Lebanon in 2000 Gal Luft. Karpin) = 559 killed 1985-2000 " "SOUTH OF LEBANON- SOUTH LEBANON ARMY" " . Hezbollah makes explosive return: Israel's proxy militia under fire in south Lebanon .

1985–2000 war between Israel and insurgents in South Lebanon Belligerents Israel South Lebanon Army Hezbollah Amal Movement Jammoul PFLP-GC Commanders and leaders Antoine Lahad Aql Hashem † Shimon Peres Ariel Sharon Ehud Barak Erez Gerstein † Abbas al-Musawi † Hassan Nasrallah George Hawi Elias Atallah Nabih Berri Ahmed Jibril Strength SLA: 2,500 troops IDF: 1,000–1,500 troops Unknown Casualties and losses SLA: 621 killed (1978–2000) (SLA claim) 1,050 killed 639 wounded (1982–1999) (Hezbollah claim) IDF: 559 killed (256 in combat) 840 wounded Hezbollah: 1,276 killed (1982–2000) ~1,000 wounded (1982–1999) 270 Lebanese civilians killed 500 Lebanese civilians wounded. 7 Israeli civilians killed by rockets The Blue Line covers the Lebanese-Israeli border; an extension covers the Lebanese- Golan Heights border The South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) or the Security Zone conflict in Lebanon refers to 15 years of warfare between the Lebanese proxy militias SLA with military and logistic support of Israel Defense Forces against Lebanese Muslim guerrillas led by the Iranian -backed Hezbollah , within what was defined as the " Security Zone " in South Lebanon . It can also refer to the continuation of conflict in this region, beginning with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) operations transfer to South Lebanon, following Black September in the Kingdom of Jordan . Historical tension between Palestinian refugees and Lebanese factions fomented the violent Lebanese internal political struggle between many different factions. In light of this, the South Lebanon conflict can be seen as a part of the Lebanese Civil War . In earlier conflicts prior to the 1982 Israeli invasion , including Operation Litani , Israel attempted to eradicate PLO bases from Lebanon and support Christian Maronite militias. The 1982 invasion resulted in the PLO's departure from Lebanon. The creation of the Security Zone in South Lebanon benefited civilian Israelis, although at great cost to Palestinian and Lebanese civilians. Despite this Israeli success in eradicating PLO bases and its partial withdrawal in 1985, the Israeli invasion increased the severity of conflict with local Lebanese militias and resulted in the consolidation of several local Shia Muslim movements in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and Amal , from a previously unorganized guerrilla movement in the south. Over the years, military casualties of both sides grew higher, as both parties used more modern weaponry, and Hezbollah progressed in its tactics. By the early 1990s, Hezbollah, with support from Syria and Iran, emerged as the leading group and military power, monopolizing guerrilla activity in South Lebanon. With no clear end-game in South Lebanon, the IDF was unfamiliar with the type of warfare that Hezbollah waged, and while it could inflict losses on Hezbollah, there was no long-term strategy. With Hezbollah targetting the Galilee with rockets, the official purpose of the security zone - to protect Israel's northern communities - seemed contradictory. Following the 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster , the Israeli public began to seriously question whether the occupation of South Lebanon was worth maintaining. The Four Mothers movement rose to the forefront of the public discourse, and played a leading role in swaying the public in favor of a withdrawal. By the year 2000, following an election campaign promise, newly elected Prime Minister Ehud Barak withdrew Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon within the year, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425 , passed in 1978; the withdrawal consequently resulted in the immediate total collapse of the South Lebanon Army . The Lebanese government and Hezbollah still consider the withdrawal incomplete until Israel withdraws from Shebaa Farms . Following the withdrawal, Hezbollah has monopolized its military and civil control of the southern part of Lebanon. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise . 2011 . Iran has also played an instrumental role in building up Hezbollah's military capabilities over the years, which enabled the group's impressive military wing to oust Israel from south Lebanon in 2000 Gal Luft.

War between Israel and Hezbollah Not to be confused with the 1978 South Lebanon conflict . The Blue Line covers the Lebanese-Israeli border; an extension covers the Lebanese- Golan Heights border The South Lebanon conflict , designated by Israel as the Security Zone in Lebanon Campaign , was a protracted armed conflict that took place in southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000. It saw fighting between Israel and the Catholic Christian -dominated South Lebanon Army (SLA) against Hezbollah -led Shia Muslim and Left-wing guerillas within the Israeli-occupied "Security Zone" ; the SLA had military and logistical support from the Israel Defense Forces over the course of the conflict and operated under the jurisdiction of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon provisional administration , which succeeded the earlier Israeli-backed State of Free Lebanon . It can also refer to the continuation of the earlier conflict in this region involving the growing Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon against Israel following the expulsion of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Jordan after Black September . Historical tensions between Palestinian refugees and Lebanese factions contributed another layer to the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), which saw the Maronite -led Lebanese Front and the Shia Amal Movement at war with the PLO. Hence, the South Lebanon conflict can partly be seen as an extension of the civil war that ended in 1990. In earlier conflicts prior to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon , including the 1978 South Lebanon conflict , Israel attempted to eradicate PLO bases from Lebanon and provided support to Maronite Christian militias in the country amidst the Lebanese Civil War; the 1982 invasion resulted in the PLO's departure from Lebanon. Israel's subsequent establishment of the Security Zone in southern Lebanon successfully shielded Israeli civilians from cross-border attacks by Palestinian militants but came at a great cost to Lebanese civilians and Palestinians. Despite Israel's success in eradicating PLO bases in Lebanon and its partial withdrawal in 1985, the invasion increased the severity of conflict with local Lebanese militias and resulted in the consolidation of several rival Shia Islamic movements such as upstart Hezbollah and the much-larger Amal Movement into an organized guerrilla movement in the Shia-majority south. Over the years, combined casualties grew higher as both sides used more modern weaponry and as Hezbollah progressed in its tactics. By the early 1990s, Hezbollah, with support from Iran and now Syria , emerged as the leading group and military power, monopolizing guerrilla activity in southern Lebanon. With no clear end-game in Lebanon, the Israeli military was unfamiliar with the type of warfare that Hezbollah waged, and while it could inflict losses on Hezbollah, there was no long-term strategy. With Hezbollah increasingly targeting the Galilee with rockets, the official purpose of the Security Zone—to protect Israel's northern communities—seemed contradictory. Hezbollah also excelled at psychological warfare, often recording their attacks on Israeli troops. Following the 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster , the Israeli public began to seriously question whether the military occupation of southern Lebanon was worth maintaining. The Four Mothers movement rose to the forefront of the public discourse, and played a leading role in swaying the public in favour of a complete withdrawal. It was common knowledge in Israel that the Security Zone was not permanent, but the Israeli government hoped that a withdrawal could be carried out in the context of a wider agreement with Syria and, by extension, Lebanon. However, talks with Syria failed. By 2000, following up on his promise during the 1999 Israeli general election , the newly elected Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak unilaterally withdrew Israeli forces from southern Lebanon within the year, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 of 1978; Israel's withdrawal consequently resulted in the immediate and total collapse of the SLA, with many of its members escaping to Israel. The Lebanese government and Hezbollah still consider the withdrawal incomplete until Israel withdraws from Shebaa Farms . In 2020, Israel retrospectively recognized the conflict as a full-scale war. Iran has also played an instrumental role in building up Hezbollah's military capabilities over the years, which enabled the group's impressive military wing to oust Israel from south Lebanon in 2000 Luft, Gal (September 2000). In the Path of Hezbollah . IDF to recognize 18-year occupation of south Lebanon as official campaign , Times of Israel, Nov 4, 2020.

Conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based militant groups Not to be confused with the 1978 South Lebanon conflict or the 1982 Lebanon War . An extension covers the Lebanese- Golan Heights border The South Lebanon conflict was an armed conflict that took place in Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 or 1985 until Israel's withdrawal in 2000. Hezbollah , along with other Shia Muslim and left-wing guerrillas, fought against Israel and its ally, the Catholic Christian -dominated South Lebanon Army (SLA). The SLA was supported militarily and logistically by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and operated under the jurisdiction of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon provisional administration , which succeeded the earlier Israeli-backed Free Lebanon State . Israel officially names the conflict the Security Zone in Lebanon Campaign and deems it to have begun on 30 September 1982, after the end of its " Operation Peace for Galilee ". It can also be seen as an extension of the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and in 1982 , to end the Palestinian insurgency in South Lebanon and support Lebanese Maronite Christians in the Lebanese Civil War . The 1982 invasion resulted in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leaving Lebanon and marked the beginning of Israeli occupation. Militant groups began attacking Israeli forces in southern Lebanon in September 1982. Amid rising casualties from guerrilla attacks, the IDF retreated south of the Awali river on 3 September 1983. The IDF began a phased withdrawal from Lebanon in February 1985. It withdrew to a "security zone" along the border on 29 April, and most IDF troops withdrew from the "security zone" on 10 June. A small number of IDF soldiers remained in the zone to support the SLA. Throughout its existence, there were about 1,500 IDF and 2,500 SLA troops in the "security zone" at any given time. The occupation led to the creation of the Shia Islamist paramilitary group Hezbollah. It began waging a guerrilla war against the IDF and the SLA, with support from Iran and Syria . The IDF and the SLA engaged in counterinsurgency , but Israel had no long-term strategy. With Hezbollah increasingly targeting the Galilee with rockets, the official purpose of the Security Zone—to protect Israel's northern communities—seemed contradictory. Hezbollah also excelled at psychological warfare, often recording their attacks on Israeli troops. Israel launched two major operations in southern Lebanon during the 1990s: Operation Accountability in 1993 and Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996. Following the 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster , the Israeli public began to seriously question whether the occupation of southern Lebanon was worth maintaining. The Four Mothers movement rose to the forefront of the public discourse, and played a leading role in swaying the public in favour of a complete withdrawal. The Israeli government hoped that a withdrawal from the security zone could be carried out in the context of a wider agreement with Syria and, by extension, Lebanon. Talks with Syria failed. By 2000, following up on his promise during the 1999 Israeli general election , the new Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak unilaterally withdrew Israeli forces from southern Lebanon on 25 May 2000, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 of 1978. Israel's withdrawal resulted in the immediate and total collapse of the SLA, with many of its members escaping to Israel. The Lebanese government and Hezbollah consider the withdrawal incomplete until Israel withdraws from Shebaa Farms . In 2020, Israel recognized the conflict as an IDF military campaign. The Christian Science Monitor . 19 July 2012 . Iran has also played an instrumental role in building up Hezbollah's military capabilities over the years, which enabled the group's impressive military wing to oust Israel from south Lebanon in 2000 Luft, Gal (September 2000). In the Path of Hezbollah .