Changes

On June 3, 1982, [[Shlomo Argov]], Israeli ambassador to the [[United Kingdom]], was shot and permanently paralyzed by terrorists from the [[Abu Nidal organization]].  Since Abu Nidal was at that time part of [[Fatah]], the leading faction within the PLO, the Israeli [[cabinet]] decided to mount a full invasion and clean out all centers of Palestinian resistance within 25 miles of the Lebanese-Israeli border.  The IDF began softening up the Palestinians the next day with air raids as far north as the capital, [[Beirut]] (halfway up the Lebanese coast).  [[Refugee]] camps were treated as military targets because it was common knowledge that gunmen were always present there.  [[Syria]], which at that time occupied most of Lebanon not held by the PLO, SLA, or Maronite [[Phalangists]], contested the air campaign and came under attack in turn, with the loss of all but 10 of the aircraft which engaged Israel's air force, and some dozens of [[armored personnel carriers]] and [[tanks]].  The PLO retaliated by renewing its attack with artillery and [[mortars]] upon northern Israel; this time, two civilians were killed and six wounded.

On June 3, 1982, [[Shlomo Argov]], Israeli ambassador to the [[United Kingdom]], was shot and permanently paralyzed by terrorists from the [[Abu Nidal organization]].  Since Abu Nidal was at that time part of [[Fatah]], the leading faction within the PLO, the Israeli [[cabinet]] decided to mount a full invasion and clean out all centers of Palestinian resistance within 25 miles of the Lebanese-Israeli border.  The IDF began softening up the Palestinians the next day with air raids as far north as the capital, [[Beirut]] (halfway up the Lebanese coast).  [[Refugee]] camps were treated as military targets because it was common knowledge that gunmen were always present there.  [[Syria]], which at that time occupied most of Lebanon not held by the PLO, SLA, or Maronite [[Phalangists]], contested the air campaign and came under attack in turn, with the loss of all but 10 of the aircraft which engaged Israel's air force, and some dozens of [[armored personnel carriers]] and [[tanks]].  The PLO retaliated by renewing its attack with artillery and [[mortars]] upon northern Israel; this time, two civilians were killed and six wounded.

[[category:Wars]]

[[category:Wars]]