6 / 15150 Results
  • October 23, 1983

    Military Action:

    US Marine administrative HQ and French paratroop barracks in Beirut destroyed by almost simultaneous truck bomb attacks; responsibility for bombing claimed by Free Islamic...

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  • September 23, 1983

    Military Action:

    Heavy fighting erupts in southern Beirut suburbs between LAF and Amal miliita; US Marine compound at airport hit by artillery and mortar rounds; US warships and Marine...

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  • September 22, 1983

    Military Action;

    French Army HQ and Italian munitions depot in Beirut hit by rockets; 4-8 French Super Etendard jet fighters, based on French carrier Foch, attack PSP and Syrian gun...

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  • September 21, 1983

    Military Action:

    Fighting continues around Souq al-Gharb, with anti-government forces, reportedly including Hitten and Yarmouk brigades of PLA, using tanks and smokescreens; artillery and...

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  • September 20, 1983

    Military Action:

    US Marines, Army officers make first reported visit to LAF positions at Souq al-Gharb, gather intelligence, consult on target coordinates; LAF adds 2 battalions to 4...

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  • September 7, 1983

    Military Action:

    Heavy artillery fire hits West Beirut; fighting intensifies around Souq al-Gharb; US and French jets carry out reconnaissance and warning flights over Beirut and PSP...

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Military Action:

US Marine administrative HQ and French paratroop barracks in Beirut destroyed by almost simultaneous truck bomb attacks; responsibility for bombing claimed by Free Islamic Revolutionary Movement; heavy fighting resumes around Souq al-Gharb; IDF patrol battles Lebanese civilians near Sarafand, south of Zahrani river.

Casualties:

Initial reports from Beirut bombings list military casualties as 146 US, 27 French killed, 69 US, 12 French wounded, 53 French missing; 20+ Lebanese civilians injured by explosion at French barracks; both buildings totally destroyed, along with documents, material; 3 Lebanese. civilians killed, several wounded, 1 IDF soldier wounded near Sarafand.

Political Responses:

US and Other Countries: US officials suspect Iranian involvement in Beirut bombings, and Hisballah group, based in Baalbek, of direct responsibility; Reagan says US forces will remain in Lebanon, threatens retaliation when identity of bombers is known; Joint Chiefs of Staff meet in emergency session; Pentagon says Lebanese Army not ready to take over peacekeeping duties, requires another year of intensive training by US to reach full operational capacity; France, other European MNF states say their forces will remain in Beirut.

Military Action:

Heavy fighting erupts in southern Beirut suburbs between LAF and Amal miliita; US Marine compound at airport hit by artillery and mortar rounds; US warships and Marine shore battery return fire; fighting resumes around Souq al-Gharb; rockets hit Defense Ministry, fall near presidential palace and US Ambassador's residence.

Casualties:

4 Marines wounded; 2 members CBS-TV crew wounded at Souq al-Gharb; 30 LAF soldiers captured, then released, by Amal in Burj al-Barajneh; 11 Muslim civilians reportedly killed by LF in Mraije.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese National Resistance Front issues warning in Damascus against members of MNF deepening their involvement in Lebanon fighting.

US and Other Countries: Senate Foreign Relations Committee approves by 9-7 vote a resolution authorizing president to keep Marines in Lebanon for further 18 months; European MNF members announce diplomatic initiative independent of US to obtain Lebanon cease-fire.

Military Action;

French Army HQ and Italian munitions depot in Beirut hit by rockets; 4-8 French Super Etendard jet fighters, based on French carrier Foch, attack PSP and Syrian gun emplacements near Sofar, Dour Choueir and elsewhere, first combat use of airpower by MNF; rockets hit Lebanese Air Force base at Jubeil, LAF positions at Khalden; battle for Souq al-Gharb continues.

Casualties:

4 French soldiers wounded in HQ shelling, 2 others wounded by grenade thrown at truck, French casualties now total 50 wounded, 16 killed; Italian MNF munitions depot destroyed.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: 600-2000 Druze civilians demonstrate in Beirut against US support for LAF and LF, march to temporary US Embassy, present letter to US official.

US and Other Countries: House Foreign Affairs Committee by 30-6 vote approves compromise formula to allow deployment of US troops in Lebanon for additional 18 months.

Military Action:

Fighting continues around Souq al-Gharb, with anti-government forces, reportedly including Hitten and Yarmouk brigades of PLA, using tanks and smokescreens; artillery and rocket fire hits Yarze and Baabda areas; US ships fire salvos for third consecutive day; Gemayel tours LAF positions along Souq al-Gharb-Kaifun ridge.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir, with majority in Knesset, is invited to form new government, extends invitation to Labor Alignment to join government of national unity; Sharon calls on US to send Marines into Chouf, use naval and air power to stop Druze forces, send warning to Syria and Soviet Union; Israeli acting mayor cancels Hebron council's successful petition to High Court for injunction against expansion of Jewish settlements in town's center.

US and Other Countries: Reagan says Marines' participation in MNF is absolutely crucial to ending Soviet-sponsored aggression against Lebanon; House Appropriations Committee votes 20-16 to cut off funds for Marines in MNF on December 1 unless Reagan invokes War Powers Act.

Military Action:

US Marines, Army officers make first reported visit to LAF positions at Souq al-Gharb, gather intelligence, consult on target coordinates; LAF adds 2 battalions to 4 already at Souq al-Gharb, US ships fire 40+ rounds at anti-government artillery and rocket batteries east of Yarze; SAM-5 reportedly fired at US Navy F-14 on reconnaissance flight over Beirut, no damage; Amal militia continues attack on LAF units south of Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF reportedly will intervene in Lebanon fighting if PLO seeks to gain foothold south of Damour River line.

US and Other Countries: Reagan administration and Congressional leaders of both parties agree on compromise formula to authorize Marines to remain in Lebanon for further 18 months under War Powers Act, no change in number, role or deployment; US names new ambassadors to Lebanon, Saudi Arabia; Italy positions warplanes at British base on Cyprus to support its MNF contingent; British naval task force begins assembling in eastern Mediterranean.

Military Action:

Heavy artillery fire hits West Beirut; fighting intensifies around Souq al-Gharb; US and French jets carry out reconnaissance and warning flights over Beirut and PSP positions in Chouf; US Marines fire artillery rounds; US, French, Italian warships move close to Beirut shoreline.

Casualties:

2-3 French soldiers in MNF killed, 5 wounded by artillery fire, total French MNF casualties are 16 killed, 44 wounded; 11 civilians killed, 38 injured in West Beirut; car bomb near Mourabitoun HQ on Corniche Mazraa kills 6, injures 27; 5 Red Cross relief and ambulance convoys turned back from Chouf since Sunday, Red Cross officials report 40,000 refugees from Chouf fighting.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese officials ask MNF countries to increase number of troops and deploy them in mountains, say Syrian-backed PLO forces are aiding PSP militia.

Arab Governments: Assad meets McFarlane in Damascus. US and Other Countries: France warns it will destroy any artillery positions firing on French MNF contingent.

UN: Conference on Palestine ends, declares right of Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent state in Palestine.