Air Warfare in the Missile Age by Lon O. Nordeen

Author:Lon O. Nordeen [Nordeen, Lon O.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-58834-439-7
Publisher: Smithsonian
Published: 2014-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

Invasions of Lebanon

Israeli forces drove into Lebanon as far as the Litani River under the cover of heavy airpower in March 1978, with the goal of driving out the PLO. In June 1978 UN forces took over checkpoints, and the 25,000 Israeli troops pulled back. For a time the UN and Christian militia forces remained in control, but the PLO eventually returned and began shelling Israel. During the spring of 1982, following a period of relative calm, shelling and raids occurred with increasing frequency along the Israeli-Lebanon border. Tension rose, and Ariel Sharon, Israel’s defense minister, announced that unless terrorist activities ceased, Israel ground forces would cross into Lebanon and wipe out the PLO.

On 4 June 1982, Shlomo Argov, Israeli ambassador in London, was shot and critically wounded by an Arab terrorist. In retaliation, the following day Israeli warplanes staged more than sixty air strikes against PLO targets throughout southern Lebanon. The PLO responded by barraging Israeli settlements with artillery and rocket fire.

Israeli armored task forces crossed the border at 11:00 A.M. on 6 June 1982, beginning a large-scale invasion of southern Lebanon. The operation, known in Israel as Peace for Galilee, was designed to eliminate the PLO and other terrorist groups, dislodge Syrian units that occupied much of central Lebanon, and demilitarize that area of southern Lebanon within rocket or artillery range of Israeli settlements. Some 60,000 troops and more than 800 tanks advanced north along the three major routes. Each multidivision task force was heavily supported by artillery, attack helicopters, and air strikes.29

The PLO and other Arab terrorist groups based in southern Lebanon could field a force of some 15,000 troops equipped with more than 100 tanks and hundreds of heavy mortars, cannon, and rocket launchers. However, this force was no match for the powerful Israeli armored columns. Fighting was intense, but the PLO and other Arab fighters were overrun or quickly withdrew.

On the second day of fighting, Israeli forces clashed with tanks of the Syrian 85th Armored Brigade. Israel announced that it would not attack Syrian units unless they fired first.30 Following this declaration, PLO forces retreated behind Syrian units and intermingled with their supply columns to lessen the probability of being attacked by artillery or air strikes. Syria reacted by moving additional forces into the country, strengthening surface-to-air missile defenses (including assistance from Soviet advisers) in the Bekaa Valley, and providing air cover for units in central Lebanon.

Heavy fighting continued on 8 June between Israeli forces and the PLO along the coast road near Sidon. An armored battle developed as Israeli forces pushed north against Syrian armored and commando units in central and eastern Lebanon. Syrian aircraft met Israeli fighters over the battlefield, and six MiG fighters were reportedly downed in three separate engagements. No Israeli fighters were admitted lost. However, Syrian sources claimed its fighters had downed three Israeli aircraft and a drone.31

On 9 June Israeli forces continued to push north against PLO and Syrian resistance. At 2:00 P.M., Israeli aircraft, working in concert with decoys and artillery, attacked the Syrian defense system in the Bekaa Valley.

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