Lebanese Civil War Volume 4: The Showdown, 8-12 June 1982

Details Israel’s 1982 invasion, highlighting fierce battles and strategic operations.

Following years of growing tensions, in June 1982 Israel launched an all-out invasion of Lebanon. Following initial advances on Palestinian-controlled Tyre and Sidon, the Beaufort Castle, and the amphibious landing at Awali, on 8 June 1982 the Israeli Defence Force initiated operations against Syrian armed forces deployed in southern central Lebanon.

Initially minor firefights for Jezzine and Ein Zehalta developed into major armoured battles, in which the Syrian Gazelle helicopters took a heavy toll of Israeli armour. The battles at Ein el-Hilweh, Khalde, Kfar Sil, Jezzine, and Ein Zehalta live on in the memories of all who fought there, marked by ferocious combat and the relentless resistance of Palestinian and Syrian fighters. They were fought in the form of slugging matches at unimaginably close ranges, in which neither side spared the other. Eventually, the Israelis achieved their breakthrough. However, they did so only gradually, much slower than expected, and certainly in a far costlier fashion than is usually thought. Even then, their efforts were still not yet enough to reach the crucial highway connecting Beirut with Damascus.

Based on extensive interviews with veterans from all involved parties, focusing on minute reconstructions of combat operations, and richly illustrated with colour artworks and exclusive photography, Lebanese Civil War Volume 4 offers unsurpassed coverage of one of the most spectacular, but also one of the most tragic conflicts of the late 20th Century.