The War of the Camps was a subconflict within the Lebanese Civil War in which Palestinian refugee camps were besieged by the Shiite Amal militia. Combatants Lebanese Front Syrian Army LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nation... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... Shi‘as (the adjective in Arabic is شيعى shi‘i; English has traditionally used Shiite) which mean follower in Arabic make up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%-35% of all Muslim. ... For other uses of Amal, see the disambiguation page. ...

Sometimes described as being Muslim versus Christian, the Lebanese Civil War was actually a multifaceted conflict in which there was nearly as much intraconfessional violence as there was violence between Muslims and Christians. The War of the Camps was one of several of these small wars fought between members of the same religion, although of different sects. The conflict itself can be compared to the conflict between the Lebanese Forces, a primarily Christian Maronite group, and Michel Aoun's Christian controlled Lebanese army. A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... Lebanese Forces (LF) (Arabic: القوات اللبنانية ) is a Lebanese party and a former militia, which played a major role in the civil war that ravaged Lebanon from 1975 till 1990. ... Maronites (Marunoye ܡܪܘܢܝܐܶ; in Syriac, Mâruniyya مارونية in Arabic) are members of an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... General Michel Aoun Michel Naim Aoun (ميشال عون) (born 17 February 1935 in Beirut) is a Lebanese military commander and politician. ...

Background

In the wake of the creation of the State of Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War tens of thousands of Palestinians came to live in south Lebanon. Palestinians with skills and capital were allowed to reside in cities and live dignified lives; those majority, who could offer little to the Lebanese economy, were kept in squalid refugee camps. Combatants Egypt Syria Transjordan  Lebanon Saudi Arabia Iraq Holy War Army Arab Liberation Army  Israel Jewish militias: (Haganah, Irgun, Lehi) Druze militias Commanders Glubb Pasha Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni† Hasan Salama† Fawzi al-Qawuqji Yaakov Dori Yigael Yadin Strength Egypt: 10,000 initially rising to 20,000 Iraq: 5... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... South Lebanon may refer to South Lebanon, Ohio South Lebanon, Oregon South Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A refugee camp is a temporary camp built up by governments or NGOs (such as the ICRC) to receive refugees. ...

After the establishment of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Palestinians in Lebanon began to form paramilitary brigades, which alienated the native population. These brigades would create roadblocks where regular Lebanese would be made to pay "tolls" to support the Palestinian cause. Beginning in the late 1960s, Palestinian groups also gradually turned South Lebanon into a de facto state of their own used for launching attacks on Israel. Although in time the Shi'a of Lebanon would come to support the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel, the PLO's and the more radical Rejectionist Front groups' behavior in South Lebanon had made many Lebanese Shi'a resent the Palestinian presence. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ‎;   or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a political and paramilitary organization regarded by the Arab League since October 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ... Shia Islam ( Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 20-25% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ... The Rejectionist Front, official name Front of the Palestinian Forces Rejecting Solutions of Surrender, was a political coalition formed in 1974 by hardline Palestinian factions. ... Shia Islam ( Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 20-25% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ...

Israel had driven Yassir Arafat and thousands of Palestinian fighters out of Lebanon in 1982, but Arafat returned the next year, this time settling in Tripoli. By this time, however, Hafez al-Assad resolved to expel Arafat from Lebanon. Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسي&#1606... Tripoli (Arabic طرابلس Trablos, academically transliterated Ṭarābulus) is the second-largest city in Lebanon. ... Hafez al-Assad (Arabic: ‎ ) was the president of Syria. ... Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسي&#1606...

Assad himself sought to control the PLO and Lebanon. His anxieties were caused by a worry that Palestinian militarism would invite another Israeli invasion and that his minority Alawite regime would be endangered by the Sunni Palestinians. Initially Syria encouraged its own Palestinian groups to compete in the process, facilitating the entrance of as-Sa'iqa, PFLP-GC, and pro-Syrian Fatah members under Abu Musa. However, Syria's allies were only powerful in areas controlled by the Syrians, like the Bekaa. In areas beyond Syria's control, it soon became apparent that the independent Palestinian organizations Fatah, PFLP and DFLP had far stronger support. For the Alaouite dynasty of Morocco see:Alaouite Dynasty, for the former state now in Yemen see: Alawi (sheikhdom) The Alawi, also known as Alawites, Nusayris or Ansaris, are a Middle Eastern sect of Shia Islam[1][2] prominent in Syria The terms AlawÄ« and Alevi, although they share... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... As-Saiqa (Arabic: الصاعقة meaning thunderbolt) is a Palestinian political and military faction supported by Syria. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command is a left-wing Palestinian nationalist organization. ... Col. ... The Beqaa Beqaa is a governorate in Lebanon with a population of 750,000 inhabitants. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (Arabic Al-Jabhah al-Shabiyyah Li-Tahrir Filastin الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين) is a secular, Marxist-Leninist, nationalist Palestinian... The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (Al-Jabhah al-Dimuqratiyah Li-Tahrir Filastin) is a Marxist-Leninist organization, which was founded in 1969 when it split from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). ...

Thus, Assad recruited Col. Said al-Muragha (Abu Musa), to drive Arafat out of Lebanon. Musa, a member of Fatah, used Arafat's public willingness to negotiate with Israel as a pretext for war. In November 1983, Musa's Fatah Uprising faction fought the Arafatist Fatah for a month at Tripoli, until Arafat once again was on his way to Tunisia. Colonel (Ger: Oberst) is a military rank, usually the highest below general grades, and just above Lieutenant Colonel. ... Col. ...

Unfortunately for Assad, Arafat's Fatah forces crept back into Lebanon over the next two years, ensconcing themselves in the many refugee camps in the South. As more Palestinians regrouped in the South, Assad's anxiety grew, as he did not want to give Israel the pretext for another invasion. This time, Assad recruited the more powerful Amal militia to dislodge Arafat's loyalists. Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسي&#1606... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... For other uses of Amal, see the disambiguation page. ...

The benefit for Hafez al-Assad of this alliance was more complete control of Lebanon through his indigenous Lebanese allies. The benefit for Amal was revenge for decades of Palestinian arrogance and further control of Lebanon. The Assads are an Alawite family from the Lattakia region (specifically Qardaha), which has since 1970 held political power in Syria. ... For other uses of Amal, see the disambiguation page. ...

By 1985 Amal was also in conflict with the Druze PSP militia in the Chouf region. The Palestinians were allied to the Druze. For other uses of Amal, see the disambiguation page. ... Druze star The Druze or Druz (also known as Druse; Arabic: derzī or durzī درزي, pl. ... The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) (Arabic al-hizb al-taqadummi al-ishtiraki) is a political party in Lebanon. ... Chouf (also spelled Shouf, Shuf or Chuf) is a historical region of Lebanon, and also an administrative district in the governorate (mohafazat) of Mount Lebanon. ... Druze star The Druze or Druz (also known as Druse; Arabic: derzī or durzī درزي, pl. ...

==

The war of the camps

==

First battle: May 1985

After the multinational force withdrew from Beirut in February 1984, Amal and PSP took control of West Beirut, and Amal built a number of outposts around the camps (in Beirut, but also in the south). On April 15, 1985, Amal and PSP attacked the al-Murabitun, the main Lebanese Sunni militia and the closest ally of the PLO in Lebanon. Al-Murabitun were vanquished and their leader, Ibrahim Kulaylat sent into exile. On May 19, 1985, heavy fighting erupted between Amal and Palestinians for the control of the Sabra, Shatila and Burj el-Barajneh camps in Beirut. Amal was supported by the Shi'a Sixth Brigade of the Lebanese Army and even some units of the predominantly Christian Eighth Brigade stationed in East Beirut. Virtually all the houses in the camps were reduced to rubble. For other uses, see Beirut (disambiguation). ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Al-Murabitun (al-murabitÅ«n, also transliterated as al-Mourabitoun, an Arabic term literally meaning The Sentinels, but with Muslim historical connotations) was an alternative name for the Independent Nasserist Organization of Lebanon. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Ibrahim Kulaylat was head of the Nasserite Sunni militia murabitun in the Lebanese war. ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Autocars Co. ... The Shatila refugee camp (Arabic: ‎) (also Chatila refugee camp) is a long-term refugee camp for Palestinian refugees, set up by UNRWA in 1949. ...

On May 30, 1985, much of Sabra fell to its attackers. Amid Arab and Soviet political pressures on Syria and an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers scheduled to discuss the issue June 8, Amal declared a unilateral ceasefire the next day. Despite this, lower-scale fighting continued. In Shatila, the Palestinians retained the control of a part of the camp centered around the mosque. Burj al-Barajneh was not penetrated at all, but nevertheless remained under siege as Amal prevented supplies from entering or its population from leaving. May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Åmål is a small town in Sweden. ...

The death toll remains uncertain, but is likely to be high. International pressure lead to a cease-fire to be signed between Amal and the Palestine National Salvation Front on June 17 in Damascus. Sporadic clashes erupted again in September 1985 and for a week after March 29, 1986. In Sidon, Amal issued a strong warning to Palestinian forces who tried to reorganize in southern Lebanon. An armistice is the effective end of a war, when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in leap years). ...

Second battle: May 1986

The situation remained tense and fighting occurred again in September 1985 and March 1986. Exactly one year after the first battle, on May 19, 1986, heavy fighting erupted again. Despite new armament (including tanks) provided by Syria, Amal could not take control of the camps. Many cease-fires were announced but most of them did not last more than a few days. The situation began to cool after Syria deployed some troops on June 24, 1986. May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Third battle September 1986

The tension due to this conflict was also present in the South, where the presence of Palestinians in the predominantly Shia area led to frequent clashes. The third and deadliest battle began on September 29, 1986, when fighting occurred at the Rashidiyye camp in Tyre between Amal and Palestinians. The conflict immediately spread to Sidon and Beirut. Palestinian forces in Sidon managed to occupy the Amal controlled Christian town of Maghduche on the eastern hills of Sidon to open the road to Rashidiyye. As Amal's position became weaker, Syrian special forces aided it in the battle for Shatila. In Sidon, Israel launched multiple air-strikes against Palestinian positions around the city. As before, the Arab league pressured both parties to stop the fighting. A cease-fire was negotiated between Amal and pro-Syrian Palestinian groups on December 15, 1986, but it was rejected by Arafat's Fatah. Fatah tried to appease the situation by giving some of its positions to Hezbollah and to the Murabitun in exchange for supplies to the camps. September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Triumphal Arch Tyre (Arabic , Phoenician , Hebrew Tzor, Tiberian Hebrew , Akkadian , Greek Týros) is a city in the South Governorate of Lebanon. ... Åmål is a small town in Sweden. ... December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Despite the cease-fire, the shelling of the camps continued. In Beirut, a blockade of the camps lead to a dramatic lack of food and medications inside the camps. In early 1987, the fighting spread to Hezbollah and PSP who supported the Palestinians. The PSP quickly seized large portions of West Beirut and the situation could not be tolerated by Damascus (Amal was its closest ally). Consequently, Syria occupied West Beirut beginning of February 21, 1987 which led to a short period of fighting between Syria and Hezbollah. In April 7, 1987 Amal finally lifted the siege and handed its positions around the camps over to the Syrian army. Later, in the summer of 1988, Abu Musa returned to the camps, and another 127 people were killed in the fighting. After this episode, the War of the Camps is considered to be over (July 1988). 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) (Arabic al-hizb al-taqadummi al-ishtiraki) is a political party in Lebanon. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is becoming very long. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Consequences

The main consequence of the war of the camps was the occupation of West Beirut by Syria. Internal fighting had happened before in the Muslim/leftist camp (the former Lebanese National Movement) but never on such massive scale. This led to a severe blow in term of public image for many Muslim militias and destroyed the perception of unity. The main Lebanese Sunni militia, the al-Murabitun, were crushed and their leader Ibrahim Kulaylat sent into exile. From a military point of view, the results were mitigated since the PLO retained control of some of the camps. The Lebanese National Movement was led by Kamal Jumblat, a prominent Druze. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Al-Murabitun (al-murabitÅ«n, also transliterated as al-Mourabitoun, an Arabic term literally meaning The Sentinels, but with Muslim historical connotations) was an alternative name for the Independent Nasserist Organization of Lebanon. ... Ibrahim Kulaylat was head of the Nasserite Sunni militia murabitun in the Lebanese war. ...

At the end of the war an official Lebanese government reported that the total number of casualties for these battles was put at 3,781 dead and 6,787 wounded in the fighting between Amal and the Palestinians. Furthermore, the number of Palestinians killed in internal struggles between pro-Syrian and independent organizations was around 2,000. The real number is probably higher because thousands of Palestinians were not registered in Lebanon and the blockade meant that no official could access the camps so that all the casualties could not be counted.

External links

• Lebanese Civil War The combat returned to Beirut in 1987, with Palestinians, leftists, and Druze fighters allied against Amal, eventually drawing further Syrian intervention.