Battle of Tripoli

Overview

The Battle of Tripoli was a major battle during the middle of the Lebanese Civil War in late 1983. It took place in the northern coastal city of Tripoli between pro-Syrian Palestinian militant factions and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by Yasser Arafat. It resulted in the withdrawal of PLO and mostly ended their involvement in the war.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Tripoli in the Lebanese Civil War (1983) pitted Syrian-backed forces under Said al-Muragha and Ahmed Jibril against PLO fighters loyal to Yasser Arafat and Khalil al-Wazir. Syrian forces numbering approximately 6,000 engaged a PLO contingent estimated between 4,500 and 8,000 fighters, with the PLO sustaining some 2,000 casualties in the engagement. The battle reflected Syria's sustained campaign to undermine Arafat's independent leadership of the PLO and assert dominance over Palestinian factions operating within Lebanon, a strategic objective that ran parallel to Damascus's broader effort to control the course of the Lebanese Civil War.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (5)