Lebanon War

The expression Lebanon War is used to describe several different military conflicts that have taken place within, or directly involving, the state of Lebanon. Owing to Lebanon’s complex political landscape, regional tensions, and the involvement of multiple external actors, the term lacks a single fixed meaning and may refer to distinct wars occurring across several decades. The following overview outlines the principal conflicts that are commonly associated with this designation.

Lebanese Conflicts and Israeli Invasions

Lebanon experienced significant turmoil from the mid-1970s onwards, beginning with the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. During this period, neighbouring states and non-state armed groups played major roles in shaping the course of the conflict, contributing to a series of confrontations often collectively referred to as the Lebanon Wars.
One notable phase occurred in 1978, when Israel launched a military operation in southern Lebanon aimed at pushing armed groups away from its northern border. This action, known as the first Israeli invasion of Lebanon, represented an early episode in the broader set of conflicts involving both countries.
A more extensive Israeli intervention followed in 1982, frequently referred to within Israel as the First Lebanon War. This campaign sought to expel the Palestine Liberation Organisation from Lebanon and significantly altered the country’s political and military landscape. Elements of this operation extended into the mid-1980s, with Israel maintaining a presence in parts of southern Lebanon for several years.

Conflict Between Israel and Hezbollah

Between 1985 and 1988, hostilities took place between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi’a political and militant organisation that had emerged as a dominant resistance movement following earlier conflicts. This period involved frequent clashes, particularly in southern Lebanon, and formed part of the long-running confrontation between the two sides.
Another prominent conflict occurred in 2006, often designated within Israel as the Second Lebanon War. This war began after a cross-border attack by Hezbollah and resulted in a month of intense fighting, substantial infrastructural damage, and significant civilian displacement on both sides. The conflict highlighted the increasing regional influence of Hezbollah and marked a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s contemporary security environment.

Internal Conflicts Within Lebanon

Lebanon’s history since the mid-1970s also includes periods of internal strife that are sometimes associated with the broader category of Lebanon Wars. The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) comprises numerous sub-conflicts involving sectarian militias, foreign armies, and shifting alliances. Though distinct in origin and nature from external conflicts, aspects of the civil war overlapped with regional military interventions, contributing to the complexity of terminology surrounding the term Lebanon War.
Additionally, Lebanon has experienced episodes of internal conflict from 2011 to the present, influenced partly by the spillover from the Syrian Civil War. These clashes involve various factions and have centred on border regions, refugee pressures, and sectarian tensions within Lebanese society.

Broader Usage and Related Contexts

In its broadest sense, the term Lebanon War may denote any significant conflict occurring on Lebanese territory, whether originating from internal developments or foreign military involvement. This flexible usage reflects Lebanon’s geopolitical position as a crossroads of regional rivalries and its intricate domestic political structure.
The phrase is also linked to discussions of the country’s wider conflict history, often found in compilations such as lists of wars involving Lebanon. In academic and policy contexts, clarity requires specifying which particular conflict is intended, given the large number of wars and military engagements that have taken place within a relatively short timeframe.