General information
Part of Conflict: Lebanon: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1976-01-20
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The LAA (Lebanese Arab Army) was formed in January 1976, as the Lebanese army fractured along sectarian lines when faced with the increasing sectarianism of the Lebanese civil war. The upper ranks of the army were controlled by Christian Maronite officers, whilst the lower ranking officers and rank and file were dominated by Moslem recruits. Some time in January 1976 most of the Moslem soldiers broke rank from the Lebanese army under Lieutenant Ahmed Khatib, declaring the movement’s support for the leftist side in the war. Apart from demanding the resignation or removal of President Frangieh from office the LAA also demanded wide-ranging reforms of the army, which traditionally had strong times to the Maronite elite and was thus viewed by many Moslems as not being the impartial mediator it was supposed to be.
A few months later, in March, more troops joined the LAA as Brigadier Aziz Ahdab, the Sunni Moslem commander of Beirut, declared that he was also against President Frangieh. A bombardment of the presidential palace ensued and the split within the army was finalized as President Frangieh abandoned Beirut.
Date of first use of armed force: 1976-01-20
Comment on date of first use of armed force: When the LAA was proclaimed as an armed movement the forces under the control of Lieutenant Khatib quickly moved to secure land and war materials. Around the date of its proclamation against President Frangieh the movement thus, by force, took control of some 25 barracks and camps in the Moslem-held areas of Lebanon.
First Battle Related Death: 1976-01-19
Comment on First Battle Related Death: As the LAA seized territory at the same time as the movement was proclaimed as an adversary of President Frangieh’s rule the group also made use of armed force. It is not completely clear, yet very likely, that the first battle-related death took place in relation to the LAA’s capture of approximately 25 army barracks and camps around the 20 January 1976.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1976-03-31
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The exact date when the Government of Lebanon versus the LAA dyad reaches 25 battle-deaths is unclear. The LAA was involved in heavy fighting throughout the entirety of March, beginning with the chaotic situation around Qoubayat around the 5-6 March. At the end of March the LAA had captured large amounts of territory, bombarded Beirut and the presidential palace and engaged in combat with both Christian militias and the Lebanese army. By the end of March it is thus likely that the conflict had surpassed 25 battle-related deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1976
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1000 |
| Best | 1000 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Lebanon): n/a
Side B (LAA): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1976 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle-related deaths in 1976 is unclear. In the Lebanese case it has not been possible to find any reliable figures, nor separate what violence was state-based and what was, for instance, non-state conflicts between the many different militias.
Negotiations: YES
Comment on Negotiations: Syrian involvement in January 1976 was key in establishing the ceasefire of 24 January. Syrian representatives took part in the Higher Military Committee, as well as meeting with the warring factions thereafter. The Syrians also managed to gain wide-spread support among most of the warring factions regarding its ‘five-point plan’ which, for example, would change Moslem-Christian proportions in the assembly to 50% each and add requirements of a two-thirds majority on ‘vital’ questions. This formula was accepted by President Frangieh, who in mid-February made conciliatory public statements in this regard. The Syrian peace plan, however, fell apart as the leftist forces went on the offensive in March.
The Arab League was also involved in negotiations during the year. In it first actions as a mediator the grouping, led by Chairman Riad, managed to negotiate a ceasefire on 3 July, which was immediately broken. A second ceasefire was negotiated between all sides on 24 July, but was also broken immediately. In September the Arab League held several meetings amongst Lebanon’s contenders, with the most visible result being the all-encompassing ceasefire of 23 September which coincided with Elias Sarkis claiming the presidential seat. This ceasefire soon broke down though, as Syrian forces and right-wing militias attacked the leftist alliance across the country
October saw much diplomatic activity as a consequence of the military setbacks of the leftist alliance. Syrian and Lebanese delegates met with each other and representatives of other countries, but it is unclear if any real negotiations took place between the warring parties. Likewise, the meeting in Riyadh in mid-October (see Comment on Third parties) is not categorised as being negotiations since the LNM and the LAA were not present at those talks.
Negotiations between President Sarkis, the leftist alliance and the Christian right-wing were, however, held on 20 October. At that meeting all of the main warring parties in Lebanon agreed to adhere to the ceasefire declared and signed at the Riyadh meeting. That document (which does not qualify as a peace agreement since it did not deal with the incompatibility) had amongst its most important stipulations the stationing in Lebanon of up to 30 000 Arab peacekeepers, the disarmament of militias and a withdrawal to positions held before April 1975. By November 1976 at least 25 000 peacekeepers were present in Lebanon and the ceasefire generally adhered to. In addition to Syria contributing parties were Sudan, Saudi Arabia, South Yemen, Libya and the United Arab Emirates.
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Ceasefire
Date of termination: 1976-10-22
Comment on Termination: Hostilities in 1976 ended with the signature of a ceasefire in Riyadh on 18 October; a ceasefire that came into effect on 22 October the same year. The Riyadh agreement had amongst its most important stipulations the stationing in Lebanon of up to 30 000 Arab peacekeepers, the disarmament of militias and a withdrawal to positions held before April 1975.
