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...
2 US warships engage in first direct military support of LAF, bombard PSP positions near Souq al-Gharb with 350+ rounds of 5-inch shells (heaviest naval bombardment since...
National Salvation Front attacks Lebanese Air Force base at Jbeil with estimated 50 Katyushas, no damage to planes reported; Air Force bombs anti- government artillery and...
US warships respond to shelling in area of US Ambassador's residence and Defense Ministry, where US advisers are based, fire an estimated 60 rounds from 5-inch guns,...
1500 men in 2 LAF battalions open broad offensive along ridge between Souq al-Gharb and Bais- sour, make some advances; Lebanese Air Force enters combat for first time...
Relatively light exchanges of artillery and machine gun fire between LAF units and PSP militia at Souq al-Gharb and Khaldeh; IDF position 8 mi. east of Tyre attacked with...
10,000-13,000 Lebanese Army troops cordon off 14 sq. km. area around Hayy al-Sollom and Burj al-Barajneh, begin sweep against Muslim militias, heavy fighting from dawn to...
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Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: For the second time in a week, board members of 2 Gaza unions are ordered to suspend their activities [FJ 5/31].
Military Action
Arab World: Israeli military planes force Lebanese air force jet attempting to rescue small boat off Sidon coast to land in Israel; 2 crewmen are questioned and released [WP, BG 5/29].
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: E. Jerusalem merchants strike in reaction to 4/23 killing of Arab taxi driver [JP 4/26].
Arab World: In Damascus, Pres. Assad urges support be given to S. Lebanese resistance until IDF is driven from all Lebanese territory [FT 4/26].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes in Kiryat Malachi; one police sapper injured. Israeli stabbed in Khan Yunis; 3-day curfew imposed [JP 4/26, FJ 5/3]. IDF impose curfew in 20 W. Bank villages as hundreds of Gush Emunim settlers stage Israeli independence day march from Salfit to Qalqiliya; Peace Now stages counter-demonstration [FJ 4/26]. Stones thrown at IDF vehicles in al-Am'ari camp, Jalazoun camp, Qalandiya camp, Balata camp [FJ 5/3].
Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: Palestinian, Muslim forces attack, burn Christian village of Darb al-Sim after fighting there [PI 4/26]. Lebanese Air Force planes strafe Mieh Mieh camp; 1 killed, 17 wounded [LAT 4/28].
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:
2 US warships engage in first direct military support of LAF, bombard PSP positions near Souq al-Gharb with 350+ rounds of 5-inch shells (heaviest naval bombardment since Vietnam war) after militiamen penetrate Souq al-Gharb defenses, capture 3 strategic hilltops; PSP says it downed Lebanese Air Force fighter-bomber; air Force attacks, damages anti-aircraft batteries near Batroun, north of Beirut; artillery barrages hit East Beirut; 24 hour curfew imposed in Beirut's southern suburbs; bomb damages IDF convoy near Nabatieh.
Casualties:
Heavy but unspecified casual- ties reported on both sides of Souq al- Gharb battle, including casualties from naval bombardment; 5 IDF soldiers wounded near Nabatieh.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Druze citizens of Israel demonstrate outside US Embassy in Tel Aviv to protest US military support for LAF.
US and Other Countries: US officials say use of naval gunfire at Souq al-Gharb (when no direct threat to US personnel existed), is necessary because successfui LAF defense of the area is vital to safety of US personnel, and loss of the position could undermine stability of Gemayel government; French Foreign Minister says US shelling is not best way to solve Lebanese crisis.
Military Action:
National Salvation Front attacks Lebanese Air Force base at Jbeil with estimated 50 Katyushas, no damage to planes reported; Air Force bombs anti- government artillery and troop positions near Souq al-Gharb and Aabadiye; LAF units hold positions at Souq al-Gharb and Kaifun under heavy rocket and artillery fire; Amal militia and LAF fight 6-hour battle in southern Beirut suburbs.
Casualties:
5-16 civilians killed, 13-42 wounded, vehicles and buildings damaged in rocket attack on Jbeil.
Political Responses:
Israel/Occupied Territories: Demonstrations in West Bank and Israel commemorate Sabra and Shatila massacres, 25 Palestinians and Israelis arrested in East Jerusalem.
Military Action:
US warships respond to shelling in area of US Ambassador's residence and Defense Ministry, where US advisers are based, fire an estimated 60 rounds from 5-inch guns, targets reportedly are artillery positions in Chouf; fighting continues between LAF and PSP forces along Souq al-Gharb Baissour ridge, hand-to-hand combat reported in Kaifun; Lebanese Air Force renews attacks on artillery positions; 3 British aircraft carriers head for eastern Mediterranean.
Casualties:
PSP reports 15 militiamen, 45 LAF soldiers killed.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: 4 Palestinians wounded by grenade thrown into Hebron market shop.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Abu Nasser, commander of September Martyr's Battalion, says 500 anti-Arafat men are fighting with PSP and Amal militias against LAF; PSP spokesman says 150 Palestinians were in Aley but are not longer involved in battles.
Arab Governments: Syria says it will retaliate if areas it controls in Lebanon are attacked by US Marine or Navy units supporting LAF.
Military Action:
1500 men in 2 LAF battalions open broad offensive along ridge between Souq al-Gharb and Bais- sour, make some advances; Lebanese Air Force enters combat for first time since 1976, 5 Hunter Hawkers attack PSP and Palestinian positions; heavy shelling hits Beirut hillsides, neighborhoods in East and West Beirut; shells land in Marine compound at airport, and near British Embassy.
Casualties:
LAF losses are 2 killed, 11 wounded; 1 Lebanese plane downed, another damaged; 9 PSP T-54 tanks destroyed.
Political Responses:
Palestinians/Lebanese: Arafat retums to Lebanon for first time since June, is warmly received at Baddawi refugee camp near Tripoli.
US and Other Countries: Reagan administration says efforts by Congres- sional Democrats to invoke War Powers Act may endanger US forces.
Military Action:
Relatively light exchanges of artillery and machine gun fire between LAF units and PSP militia at Souq al-Gharb and Khaldeh; IDF position 8 mi. east of Tyre attacked with bazookas; Lebanese Air Force planes overfly PSP positions in Chouf; Israeli jets fly reconnaissance mission over Beirut.
Casualties:
2 French soldiers wounded by hand-grenade thrown by passing motorcyclists, total French casualties are 15 killed, 42 wounded in past year; 1 IDF soldier killed, 7 wounded near Tyre.
Political Responses:
Israeli/ Occupied Territories: Begin submits formal resignation as prime minister.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Cease-fire discussions, mediated by McFarlane and Prince Bandar, continue in Damascus, Beirut and Cyprus.
US and Other Countries: Senate Democrats introduce resolution requiring Reagan to acknowledge that US troops are engaged in hostilities, thereby invoking need for Congressional approval under War Powers Act to keep Marines in Lebanon longer than 60-90 days.
Military Action:
10,000-13,000 Lebanese Army troops cordon off 14 sq. km. area around Hayy al-Sollom and Burj al-Barajneh, begin sweep against Muslim militias, heavy fighting from dawn to noon, Army occupies 2 sq. km., claims to have captured Amal HQin Burj al-Barajneh; Druze gunners in Upper Metn fire artillery and rockets at East Beirut and industrial areas, and in support of Amal militia; US Marines come under fire, use 155 mm artillery, 81 mm mortars, rockets from Cobra helicopter gunships against Shi'ite positions near airport and in foothills; Amal militia drives Lebanese Army from garrison and checkpoints in West Beirut, Mourabitoun militia takes control of streets; Amal takes over Beirut TV station; snipers posted on rooftops, firing continues throughout day and evening.
Casualties:
2 US Marines killed, 14 wounded by mortar fire; 11 Lebanese soldiers killed, 60 wounded, estimated 12-50 kidnapped; civilian casualties estimated at 20 dead, 100+ wounded, 1 Lebanese Air Force fighter bomber destroyed at airport, 2 damaged; 2-4 Lebanese Army APCs, several tanks captured.
Political Responses:
PalestiniansI Lebanese: Gemayel convenes emergency session of Cabinet; Amal leader Nabih Berri says he wants no problems with US, denies that US positions were fired on by Amal militia.
US and Other Countries: Reagan accepts recommendation of crisis management group, headed by VP Bush, that there is no need to expand size or change role of US force in Lebanon; members of Congress press for declaration that fighting in Lebanon triggers provisions of War Powers Resolution; White House says attack on Marines was outgrowth of Syria's refusal to withdraw its troops and Syrian influence over Lebanese factions.
UN: 10-day Conference on Palestine opens under heavy security in Geneva, more than 90 countries participate, US, Canada, Israel boycott.
