The conflict between Israel, Lebanon and Syria – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
The conflict between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria is deeply rooted in historical, political, and territorial
disputes.
Historical Background
1. Israel-Lebanon Conflict:
- 1970s: The conflict began in earnest when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was expelled from Jordan and moved its base to southern Lebanon, launching
attacks on Israel1.1978: Israel invaded Lebanon in Operation Litani to clear Palestinian militants from the south.
Israeli soldiers
Image Source : gettyimages
Israel invades
- In June 1982, exasperated by the failure of Unifil to eliminate the Palestinian groups and other militia in the south, Israel reinvaded Lebanon in “Operation Peace for Galilee”. This time, the army marched as far as Beirut and remained there until September 29 1982, after the PLO officially withdrew from Beirut (to Tunisia).
- Israel continued to occupy most of south Lebanon until September 3 1983, when it retreated to the south of the Awali River in south Lebanon because of rising IDF
casualties from guerrilla attacks by militants. In 1985, Israel further retreated in stages between February to April back to the zone of security, which it continued to maintain.
Image Source : theconversation
In 1982 the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, led by Yassir Arafat, left Lebanon for Tunisia. Friedrich Stark / Alamy Stock Photo
- 2006: A major conflict erupted between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group backed by Iran
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2. Israel-Syria Conflict:
- 1948: Syria participated in the Arab-Israeli War following the creation of Israel
- 1967: During the Six-Day War, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria.
- 1973: The Yom Kippur War saw Syria attempting to reclaim the Golan Heights.
- 1982: Syria was involved in the Lebanon conflict, supporting various factions.
Present Situation
- Israel and Hezbollah: The conflict continues with periodic escalations. Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon and its rocket attacks on Israel remain a significant issue.
- Israel and Syria: Tensions persist, particularly over the Golan Heights and Syria’s support for Hezbollah
Potential Solutions
- Diplomatic Engagement: Encouraging direct negotiations between the involved parties, possibly mediated by international organizations, to address core issues like territorial disputes and security concerns.
- International Pressure: Leveraging global diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage compliance with international laws and resolutions.
- Confidence-Building Mearesus: Initiating small-scale agreements on humanitarian issues, prisoner exchanges, and ceasefires to build trust.
- Regional Cooperation: Promoting broader regional cooperation frameworks that include economic and security partnerships to reduce hostilities.
Finding a lasting solution requires addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, fostering mutual understanding, and ensuring that all parties feel secure and respected.
2 October 2024 Peace and Security
Security Council members met in emergency session on Tuesday morning in New York with the Middle East on the brink of all-out war. App users can reprise our live coverage here.
UNICEF/Dar al Mussawir/Ramzi Haidar
Residents survey the damage in a suburb of southern Beirut left in ruins after being targeted by airstrikes.
Image Source : news.un
Image Source : news.un
Middle East: Beirut and Tehran attacks ‘represent a dangerous escalation’, Guterres warns
