Israel’s Long History of Incursions and Invasions in Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel has a lengthy history of military operations and invasions in Lebanon, which has seen increased border warfare with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group, over the past year amidst ongoing conflicts in Gaza.

Following recent airstrikes that targeted and killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Israel has signaled its readiness for a comprehensive invasion of Lebanon aimed at stabilizing the border region for its citizens displaced by the violence.

Here’s a chronological overview of Israel’s military actions in Lebanon:

1948
Lebanon joins other Arab nations in the fight against the newly established state of Israel. Approximately 100,000 Palestinians fleeing or being expelled from British-ruled Palestine during the war seek refuge in Lebanon. An armistice between Lebanon and Israel is established in 1949.

1968
In retaliation for an attack on an Israeli airliner by Palestinian militants, Israeli commandos destroy multiple passenger planes at Beirut airport. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) relocates to Lebanon two years later after being expelled from Jordan, escalating cross-border tensions.

1973
Israeli special forces disguised as civilians kill three Palestinian leaders in Beirut, responding to the murder of Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics. During the 1970s, Palestinian raids into Israel and subsequent Israeli reprisals in Lebanon become common, driving many Lebanese to flee the southern regions and intensifying sectarian conflict as civil war erupts in Lebanon.

1978
Israel launches an invasion of southern Lebanon, creating a narrow occupation zone following a militant attack near Tel Aviv. The Israeli military supports the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a local Christian militia.

1982
Israel escalates its invasion, moving towards Beirut following a series of retaliatory border clashes. A brutal 10-week siege results in the evacuation of thousands of Palestinian fighters by sea, while Christian militias, enabled by Israeli forces, massacre civilians in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila after the assassination of Lebanon’s newly elected Maronite Catholic president. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards subsequently help establish Hezbollah in Lebanon to counter the Israeli presence.

1985
After withdrawing from central Lebanon in 1983, Israel maintains a military presence in southern Lebanon, establishing a formal occupation zone about 15 kilometers deep, primarily controlled by the SLA. Hezbollah intensifies its guerrilla campaign against Israeli forces.

1993
Israel launches "Operation Accountability," a week-long military campaign aimed at Hezbollah, with the stated goals of disrupting its operations and pressuring the Lebanese government to intervene.

1996
In response to continuous Hezbollah attacks, Israel initiates "Operation Grapes of Wrath," a 17-day offensive that claims over 200 lives in Lebanon, including a tragic incident where over 100 people die at a U.N. base in Qana due to Israeli strikes.

2000
After years of conflict and persistent attacks on its military positions, Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon, ending a 22-year occupation.

2006
Hezbollah sparks a month-long war by abducting two Israeli soldiers, leading to extensive Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds and infrastructure throughout Lebanon. The conflict concludes without achieving Israeli military objectives, and Hezbollah hails it as a "divine victory." The death toll includes at least 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 158 Israelis, predominantly soldiers.

2024
On October 1, the Israeli military announces the commencement of "limited, localized, and targeted ground raids" based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The operation is supported by air force and artillery strikes.

The ongoing hostilities underline the entrenched and complex military relationship between Israel and Lebanon, punctuated by historical invasions and conflicts.