General information
Part of Conflict: Lebanon: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1985-03-11
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: By 1985 the Lebanese Forces was composed of several Christian militias of which the Phalangist party was the most important. The leader of the Phalangist party, Amin Gemayel, was also the President of Lebanon. One member of the Phalangist party, Samir Geaga, represented a growing dissatisfaction with the Presidents increasingly pro-Syrian policies. These differences of opinion resulted in his expulsion from the partys political bureau on 11 March. Since Samir Geaga was the commander of the Lebanese Forces he could voice his grievances by initiating a rebellion against parts of the government and the Phalangist forces.
Date of first use of armed force: 1985-03-12
Comment on date of first use of armed force: The first use of armed force occurred when Geagas Lebanese Forces refused to hand over some checkpoints to the Lebanese Army. There were also reports on clashes between rebels and troops loyal to the government. The date when that incident occurred should have been between 11 March, when Gaega was expelled from the Phalangists political Bureau, and 13 March, when Phalangist parliamentarians and religious leaders reacted and condemned the rebellion.
First Battle Related Death: 1985-03-15
Comment on First Battle Related Death: Although it is probable that the first battle related death followed after some of the initial clashes, the reports are unclear as to the intensity of the incidents. On 15 March the rebels reportedly won a minor military victory in east Beirut and it is highly likely that by then, someone had been killed as a victim of the fighting.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1989-05-08
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Because of the lack of detailed reports on the March 1985 clashes it cannot be concluded that 25 people were killed as a result of the fighting that year.
On 17 April 1989 it was reported that the Lebanese Forces joined the Lebanese Army against the Lebanese government in a clash that left 23 people killed. By 8 May more than 25 people had been killed in clashes with the governments forces.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: The Lebanese Forces was a Christian-Maronite nationalist rebel group fighting against the government of Lebanon to protect the Christian population and increase its political representation and presence in the Lebanese government. The group emerged as a political movement in 1976, although it first became militarily active in conflict in 1985, which is when its first interpreted conflict issues were stated. No issues pertaining to the conflict goals of the Lebanese Forces were stated in 1985, however.
During 1986, the Lebanese Forces called for the establishment of parliamentary and executive power-sharing and a change in the bureaucratic structure of Lebanon, calling for the implementation of a Maronite President and a shared Christian and Muslim chamber of parliament which would include equal sharing of state jobs. In 1990, the Lebanese Forces also called for the ousting of the Lebanese government, accusing the sitting government of being undemocratic. As no issues were continuously raised by the group throughout the conflict, no main conflict goal issue was attributed to the Lebanese Forces.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During 1985, the Lebanese Forces stated several conflict dynamics issues, accusing the government of Lebanon of intentionally targeting Christan civilians and stating its intentions to protect the Christian community of Lebanon. The group also called for the removal of Palestinian influence over the country, which they clamed was infringing on the sovereignty of Lebanon and called for the government of Syria to “rescue Lebanon from its tragedy”, also calling for the assistance of former Lebanese President Suleiman Franjiyah.
In 1990, the Lebanese Forces reaffirmed calls for assistance from the international community. This issue is also considered the main issue of the group, as it was stated with continuity and heavily emphasized.
Conflict Resolution Issues: In 1985, the Lebanese Forces stated its opposition to negotiations with the government, blaming continued bombing and shelling campaigns by the government for its resistance to political solutions.
In 1986, the group’s position was amended, instead calling for a ceasefire to be implemented and for national dialogue to be facilitated to resolve the conflict politically. The group also stated that its armed forces had been withdrawn and called upon the Lebanese army forces to “remain in their barracks.” As no conflict resolution issues were stated continuously, no main issue was attributed to the group.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Bureaucratic setup, Oust full executive, Parliamentary power-sharing
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Collective targeting: religious, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, IFI: Use of foreign influence
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for ceasefire, DDR issues, National dialogue, Opposition to negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1985
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Lebanon): n/a
Side B (Lebanese Forces): n/a
1989
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 288 |
| Best | 253 |
| Low | 203 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Lebanon): Government of Syria
Side B (Lebanese Forces): n/a
1990
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Lebanon): n/a
Side B (Lebanese Forces): n/a
Peace agreements
Name of peace agreement: The Taif Agreement
Date when warring parties signed the agreement: 1990-04-28
Comment of peace agreement: Full peace agreement
The Taif Agreement or National Reconciliation Accord or Document of National Accord was negotiated in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, in September 1989.
The agreement provided for the disarmament of all national and non national militias.
Regarding the incompatibility the agreement provided for powersharing involving the major politico-religious-ethnic groups in Lebanon. The Chamber of Deputies was increased in size to 128 members, shared equally between Christians and Muslims. A cabinet was established similarly divided equally between Christians and Muslims. The agreement also enhanced the powers of the Prime Minister (Sunni) over those of the president (Christian).
The Taif agreement located Lebanon as Arab in belonging and identity. The agreement covered the relationship between Lebanon and Syria. The agreement stipulated the withdrawal of all Syrian troops to the Beqaa valley by 2 years during which they would assist Lebanon to spread the authority of the state. The agreement did not provide a time frame for their full withdrawal of the country. The agreement also covered taking necessary steps to liberate all Lebanese territories from the Israeli occupation.
Signatories: The Taif agreement was approved by the Lebanese parliament on 4 November 1989 and recognised by Samir Geagea in writing on 28 April 1990.
Full-text peace agreement
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1985 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1989 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Ceasefire
Date of termination: 1989-09-23
Comment on Termination: Following a number of mediation attempts by the Arab League and others, an Arab League committee proposed a peace plan that was endorsed by Aoun\'s Lebanese Army, the Lebanese Forces, Syria and the Lebanese government on 23 September. The parties immediately declared a ceasefire, the Beirut airport was reopened and the blockade of the Christian ports was lifted. Although the agreement failed to solve the incompatibility the parties did not violate the ceasefire in any substantive manner and the Lebanese Forces did not return to the conflict the next year. Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, did even give his allegiance to President Hrawi on 3 April 1990. One reason for this was the violent inter-Christian conflict with the Lebanese Army that Geagea needed the government\'s support to win.
1990 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
