The First Lebanon-Israel War: Analyzing Israel’s 1982 Invasion and Its Regional Impact

The First Lebanon-Israel War, also known as “Operation Peace for Galilee,” marked a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, reflecting the intricate interplay of regional politics, sectarian strife, and the overarching goals of Zionism. The conflict was not merely a military engagement but a manifestation of deep-rooted animosities and aspirations that had been brewing for decades. Israel’s invasion of Lebanon was fueled by a desire to neutralize the PLO, which had established a significant presence in the country, posing a direct threat to Israeli security. The backdrop of the Lebanese Civil Wars, characterized by internal divisions and external interventions, created a volatile environment ripe for conflict.
Israel’s strategic objectives included the establishment of a friendly government in Lebanon, the expulsion of Palestinian forces, and the weakening of Syrian influence in the region. However, the war’s outcomes were far from the intended goals. While Israel achieved tactical victories, the humanitarian toll was catastrophic, with thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians losing their lives. The subsequent massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps further tarnished Israel’s image and complicated its political standing in Lebanon. This introduction sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the causes, events, and consequences of the First Lebanon War, as well as the broader implications for Zionist ambitions in the region.

Overview of the Causes, Events, and Outcomes of the First Lebanon War and Israel in 1982

Throughout history, there have been numerous conflicts between Lebanon and Israel, with Israel always coveting Lebanon. Lebanon has a challenging history, having gone through many ups and downs, most of which stem from Israel’s provocations. One example of these challenges is the Lebanese Civil Wars, which created harsh conditions and a bitter atmosphere for the people of Lebanon.
Various groups and parties in Lebanon clashed, and Zionists exacerbated these conflicts, adding fuel to Lebanon’s crises. Groups like the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Syrian forces were present in Lebanon, posing a significant threat to Israel, which sought a pretext to attack Lebanon. This opportunity arose when the Christian leader of the Lebanese Phalange Party was suspiciously assassinated, escalating the civil wars. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, marking the beginning of the First Lebanon War.
Israel launched its attack from the south, capturing the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which were strongholds of the PLO, and then advanced toward Beirut, achieving significant victories. The fighting intensified to the point that international organizations intervened, leading to a ceasefire contingent on the withdrawal of PLO and Syrian forces from Lebanon, and this way the First Lebanon War ended.
Zionists allied with the Phalange Party, composed of Catholic Christians, and managed to establish a puppet government led by Bashir Gemayel. Following Gemayel’s assassination, the Phalangists and Zionists retaliated by attacking two Palestinian refugee camps named Sabra and Shatila, resulting in a brutal massacre. Ultimately, due to Gemayel’s assassination and the growing hatred toward Israel for the massacre, Israel was forced to retreat from Beirut to southern Lebanon.
Israel has never been satisfied with a small state; the goal of Zionism in the First Lebanon War and all its wars is first to seize land from the Nile to the Euphrates and then to establish a global government under Jewish rule. The occupation and control of Lebanon is a part of this plan.

The Start of the Lebanese Civil Wars

Lebanon experienced a dark period from 1975 to 1990. During this time, the country was not only occupied by the Israeli regime due to the First Lebanon War but also embroiled in extensive internal conflicts that resulted in thousands of deaths and a very tense public atmosphere.
The first sparks of the Lebanese Civil Wars were related to two incidents in Sidon and Ain el-Rummaneh. In February 1975, fishermen in Sidon protested against a protein company called “Petromin,” owned by Catholic Christians, which aimed to monopolize fishing rights. Their leader, a notable figure named “Marouf Saad,” was injured and ultimately killed during the conflict. It was surprising that the army intervened directly in this matter, which was unnecessary. Despite Saad being Sunni, Imam Musa Sadr prayed over his body.
The second incident occurred in April 1975 and marked the beginning of the Lebanese Civil Wars. Pierre Gemayel, the leader of the Phalange Party, was assassinated by unknown individuals while visiting a church construction site in Ain el-Rummaneh for unknown reasons. The responsibility for this assassination was never officially determined, and to this day, no group has definitively claimed responsibility. Four people were killed in this incident, including Gemayel’s bodyguards. Following this, the Phalange attacked a bus carrying Palestinians, stopping the vehicle and killing its occupants.
There were forces at work to incite conflict between Christians and Muslims, leading to the fragmentation of Beirut. Gradually, Christians and Muslims in neighboring areas no longer felt safe and were forced to leave their homes; Christian leaders coerced Christians to flee through actions reminiscent of the Zionists in Nazi Germany, such as bombing their homes. Ultimately, the goal was achieved, and the living areas of Christians and Muslims became separated.
Military and physical confrontations between them intensified. It was evident that there were hidden hands controlling this turmoil, and Imam Musa Sadr was the first to uncover this conspiracy. In such a situation, the President of Lebanon, Suleiman Frangieh, fearing the defeat of Christians, requested Syrian intervention to resolve the issue, believing that only Syria could prevent further Muslim conflicts. Syria deployed tens of thousands of troops in Lebanon to prevent renewed conflicts and serve as a factor for a ceasefire. This goal was achieved [1].

The First Lebanon War and Israel in 1982

The First Lebanon War in 1982 is referred to as “Operation Peace for Galilee.” Israel launched this operation to eliminate the PLO, deploying tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of tanks. The PLO had consistently conducted extensive operations against Israeli positions in southern Lebanon. After much conflict with the PLO, Israel finally invaded Lebanon, marking the beginning of the First Lebanon War.
After the Israeli ambassador, Shlomo Argov, was targeted by the Abu Nidal group, the pretext for war against Lebanon was established. In 1982, Israel and its Phalangist allies advanced rapidly, launching ground and air attacks to enter Lebanon. They entered from the south by land, from the sea to Sidon, and by air to the Bekaa Valley.
Upon entering Lebanon, Israel attacked the cities of Tyre and Sidon. These cities, in addition to their geographical and political significance, were home to a significant portion of the PLO forces. Tyre is recognized as a strategic base on the southern Lebanese coast. When Zionists entered Lebanon, Tyre was under Palestinian control, but after intense fighting, they were forced to withdraw, and the city witnessed severe massacres. Sidon was also a key city in the conflict, and its capture meant controlling one of the most important political and military institutions of Palestine. The fighting in Sidon resulted in widespread death and destruction in the region. The First Lebanon War involved multiple actors with complex and often conflicting interests, as illustrated in figure 1.

Fig. 1. Major Actors and Their Roles in the First Lebanon War

The Outcome of Israel’s Attack on Lebanon

In the First Lebanon War, Palestinian and even Syrian forces were besieged and heavily bombarded, resulting in many deaths during the siege, food and water shortages, and bombings. In this situation, Lebanese officials sought help from Western governments, which designed “multinational peacekeeping forces” to assist in restoring peace in Lebanon. The PLO negotiated with Philip Habib, the UN special representative. Ultimately, the PLO commander, Yasser Arafat, was transferred to Tunisia.
Another goal of Zionism in the First Lebanon War and Israel was to disperse Syrian forces and separate the Syrian government from Lebanon, as Lebanon would gain power alongside Syria, become safe from civil war, and disrupt Israel’s objectives in Lebanon. Thus, Israel pursued Syrian forces in this war. Ultimately, the Syrians, after much resistance and heavy casualties, were forced to evacuate southern Lebanon and Beirut, retreating to the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon. However, when Israel was compelled to withdraw from Beirut in 1985, the Syrians returned to Beirut and assisted the Amal Movement.
The outcome of the First Lebanon War with Israel can be analyzed as follows: Although Israel tactically succeeded in eliminating Palestinian bases in Lebanon, expelling the PLO, and pushing back Syrian forces, it strategically failed. We will explain the reasons for this strategic failure later.
It is worth noting that in the First Lebanon War and Israel, about a thousand Israelis were killed, while tens of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians were martyred. After about thirty-five years, the Israeli regime revealed the grand objectives behind this war through official documents. It admitted that with the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the rise of the Islamic resistance movement in Lebanon, the regional balance of power had shifted against Zionism, prompting Israel to seek to change the regional power dynamics in its favor.

The Puppet Government of Israel in Lebanon

In addition to what transpired in the First Lebanon War with Israel, it is essential to know that the Gemayel family was a prominent Christian family from the Maronite sect of Catholicism. This family played a significant role in Lebanon’s political history and held important party and political positions. Pierre Gemayel was a politician and athlete who founded the “Kataeb” party, initially known as the Phalange, inspired by the Nazi regime in Germany.
The Kataeb or Phalange party became proficient in military, combat, and political training and took positions on political events. This party did not ally with other prominent groups in Lebanon but initially sought to end Arabism in Lebanon and achieve its independence. The most critical historical period for the Phalange party was during the Lebanese Civil Wars and its transformation into the military arm of the Israeli regime in Lebanon. The Phalange not only played a crucial role in the onset of the Lebanese Civil Wars but was also armed by Israel to execute its objectives in Lebanon.
Bashir Gemayel, the son of Pierre Gemayel, later became the President of Lebanon and led the Phalange party. He made significant efforts during the First Lebanon War and other situations to expel the PLO from Lebanon and empower the Maronite Christians. With Bashir Gemayel’s assistance, Israel was able to establish a puppet government in Lebanon. Israel and Bashir became allies, and a treaty for a forty-year peace agreement was to be signed between them. In the First Lebanon War with Israel, in addition to southern Lebanon, Israel had also managed to control the capital, with significant parts of Lebanon under Israeli occupation.

The Fate of the Puppet Government in Lebanon

When Israel and the Phalangists were reveling in their success and victories from the First Lebanon War and Israel, an incident occurred that shattered the hopes and dreams of both parties. Bashir Gemayel was assassinated in a terrorist attack involving a bomb explosion at the Phalange party headquarters in Beirut. After his death, events and transformations occurred in Lebanon and the region. Zionists, who were seeking to solidify their position in Lebanon and considered themselves victorious in the First Lebanon War, found their political standing in Lebanon precarious after Bashir’s death, and the signing of the peace treaty they had hoped for became impossible.
The Phalangists and Zionists were furious after Gemayel’s assassination. They decided to take severe revenge on Palestinians, even though it later became clear that the assassination was carried out by a member of a rival Lebanese faction. However, the Phalangists and Zionists seized this opportunity for mass killings.
At that time, thousands of Palestinian refugees were residing in the Sabra and Shatila camps in southwestern Beirut. The Phalangists, with military and logistical support from Zionists, brutally attacked the camps [2]. This mass killing occurred while Zionists had occupied the capital of Lebanon as a result of the First Lebanon War and allowed the Phalangists access to the camps. Thousands of displaced refugees were trapped in the besieged camp and were not allowed to escape. Executions, sexual assaults, and mass graves were just some of the inhumane actions committed by the Phalangists under Zionist support.
The severity of the tragedy reached a point where news spread globally, and the voices of the world’s free people rose in protest. The committee investigating this massacre labeled Ariel Sharon, the former Israeli defense minister, as the butcher of Sabra and Shatila. However, the perpetrators of the tragedy were never prosecuted, and under Western pressure in Belgium, the law for filing complaints against Sharon was changed, and the case was closed. While about 23 survivors of the incident filed complaints, not a single Phalange leader was willing to testify against Sharon, and a few days later, he was assassinated in his car.
With Bashir Gemayel’s death and the exposure of Israel’s supportive role in the Sabra and Shatila massacre, which led to a negative public perception against it, Israel became disillusioned with the agreement with Lebanon. Additionally, the changing positive attitude of Syria toward the PLO also disheartened it; thus, Israel gradually retreated from Beirut toward southern Lebanon and remained there for a long time, gaining little strategic benefit from the First Lebanon War.

The Goal of Zionism in Creating Chaos in Lebanon

Reviewing the history of Jews and Zionism, we see that Jews endured centuries of migration and isolation for a greater purpose: the return to the Promised Land and the establishment of a global government. For centuries, Zionism has worked to weaken and destroy other religions and has made secret agreements with churches and Western governments to create a state exclusively for Jews. Finally, after centuries of effort and deceit, the goal of Zionism was realized with the establishment of a fabricated state, but Zionism has never sought merely to establish a small state. The Zionist ideology views Jews as the masters of the world and believes that sovereignty and dominion over the world belong solely to Jews. The establishment of Israel and the occupation of Palestine was the first step for Jew towards establishing a global government. In this ideology, everyone is a servant of Jews in their governance, and these policies are explicitly stated in the protocols of Zionism.
In pursuing this goal, Zionism must first seize the former areas of Jerusalem, which include current Arab communities such as Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, and gradually expand this occupation. Although Zionists often speak of ownership from the Nile to the Euphrates, their ambition extends to the entire world, not just from the Nile to the Euphrates. With the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the rise of Shia and Islamic movements in the region, the dream of a global Zionist government was threatened, prompting them to see the expansion of their territory and the suppression of the voices of the world’s free people as necessary.
Since the Zionist regime is a regime of evil, it finds and employs its soldiers worldwide to expand the territory of evil. This also happened in Lebanon, where the Phalangists allied with Zionists and found their place in this eternal battle between good and evil. In Zionist thought, the end justifies the means, so not only is any form of immorality permitted, but it is also necessary for the establishment of a global and evil Jewish government. Creating division and internal strife, assassination, war, evil agreements, deceit, usurpation, aggression, humiliation, oppression, and massacres in Lebanon by Israel are part of the identity of the forces of evil.
In contrast, in the promised global and divine government, which will be established by an infallible and expert Imam, the new divine civilization centers on humanity and human dignity, prioritizing the dignity of individuals and ethical principles.
The battle between truth and falsehood has been displayed in the narrative of Zionism, and the battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil has long begun. Each individual must choose in their life whether to be a soldier of God’s army or one of the forces of evil.

Conclusion

The First Lebanon War serves as a critical case study in understanding the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the enduring impact of Zionist ideology. While Israel sought to achieve military dominance and reshape the political landscape of Lebanon, the war ultimately exposed the limitations of its strategic objectives. The humanitarian crises that ensued, particularly the atrocities committed against Palestinian refugees, not only galvanized international condemnation but also fueled anti-Zionist sentiments across the region. The assassination of Bashir Gemayel and the subsequent collapse of the puppet government further illustrated the fragility of Israel’s ambitions in Lebanon. As the conflict unfolded, it became evident that the aspirations of Zionism to establish a global Jewish government were met with fierce resistance and a complex web of regional dynamics. The legacy of the First Lebanon War continues to resonate, reminding us of the profound consequences of war and the ongoing struggle for justice and peace in the region.

References
[1] El-Khazen, Farid. The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon, 1967-1976. ‎Harvard University Press, 2000; Timofeev, Igor. Kamal Jumblatt: The Man and the Legend. Dar An-Nahar. (2001): 239, 400.
[2] Nuwayhed Al-Hout, Bayan. Sabra and Shatila: September 1982. Pluto Press, 2004; Kapeliouk, Amnon. Sabra & Shatila: Inquiry into a Massacre. Translated and edited by Khalil Jahshan. Assn of Arab-Amer Univ Graduates, 1982.