Israel attacks Lebanon: The roots of Israel-Lebanon conflict trace back to 1982 | Explained

Israeli airstrikes targeted southern and eastern Lebanon

In  the deadliest Israeli attack on Lebanon since the 2006 war with Hezbollah, Israeli airstrikes targeted southern and eastern Lebanon om Monday, killing 450 people and injuring over 1,500.

The strikes also targeted  the capital city of Beirut. Israel's attack comes days after pager and walkie-talkie explosions ripped through Lebanon, killed 32 people and injured thousands. Lebanon has blamed Israel for the attack. However, Israel has not claimed any responsibility for the same.

Amid the escalating violence which has fueled fears of a broader war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the civilians to evacuate areas which are used as hideouts by Hezbollah militants. Over 1.10 lakh Lebanese and around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced by the conflict.

It is worth noting that the conflict between Israel and Lebanon is not new, in fact, it traces back to 1982, during the first Lebanese War.

• March 1978 was the first time when tensions began between Israel-Lebanon.
• Conflict arouse after members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) infiltrated Israel, killing an American tourist and hijacking a bus, which led to the deaths of 34 hostages.
• In retaliation, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to target terrorist bases, withdrawing two months later to allow United Nations peacekeepers to enter.

Despite the entry of peacekeepers, violence persisted.

• The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)launched repeated attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli reprisals.
• In 1981, ceasefire brokered by the U.S. quickly unraveled as the PLO conducted 270 operations in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and along the Lebanese border
• The operations claimed lives of 29 Israelis and injured over 300.
• At the time, an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 PLO members were stationed in Lebanon, armed with significant weaponry.

In June 1982, the conflict further escalated when an attempt to kill Israel's Ambassador to Great Britain by  Palestinian terrorist group was thwarted.

Yet again in response to the assassination bid, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched ‘Operation Peace for Galilee’ on June 6, aiming to eliminate terrorist threats.

Consequently, by September 1, 1982, around 14,000 PLO fighters, including leader Yasser Arafat, left Lebanon for Tunisia.

Notably,  that this historical backdrop underscores the ongoing challenges between Israel and Lebanon, highlighting how past conflicts have set the stage for the current tensions.