Battle of Sidon (1991)

Date2–6 July 1991

Location

Sidon, Lebanon

33°33′38″N 35°23′53″E / 33.56056°N 35.39806°E / 33.56056; 35.39806

Result Lebanese Government victory

Battle of Sidon
Part of the Lebanese Civil War
Sidon Battle of Sidon (1991) (Lebanon)
Date 2–6 July 1991 Location Sidon, Lebanon 33°33′38″N 35°23′53″E / 33.56056°N 35.39806°E / 33.56056; 35.39806 Result Lebanese Government victory
Belligerents
Lebanese Government	Palestine Liberation Organization [1] Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine[1] Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine[1]
Commanders and leaders
Elias Hrawi	unknown
Strength
6,000 troops[2] 135 tanks[2]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
80 killed[1]

The Battle of Sidon was fought between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Lebanese Government from 2^[2] to 6^[1] July 1991, and was the final battle of the Lebanese Civil War. The causes of the battle laid in the PLO's refusal to accept the Taif Agreement, which required the PLO to disarm. The government's deadline for PLO withdrawal from Sidon was on 1 July 1991.^[2]

After four days of fighting, the PLO capitulated, marking the end of hostilities in the Lebanese Civil War. The Lebanese Government hoped that defeating the PLO would convince Israel to end its occupation of Southern Lebanon, which the Israeli government justified by its need for a buffer against PLO incursions.^[1] The Israeli complete withdrawal to the internationally recognized border took place on 24 May 2000.^[3]