Conflict Incident Report

On January 25, 1976, a ceasefire was announced as PLA units entered Lebanon. However, in March 1976 a new phase of the war began marked by growing tension among Syrians, Lebanese leftist parties, and Palestinians. Ceasefires no longer restored normalcy, and fighting occurred across the country. By the end of January 1976, some 14,000 Syrian soldiers were in Lebanon, with 5,000 to 6,000 Sa’iqa and PLA units. On March 19, 1976, a bomb was placed in the plane that was taking Speaker of Parliament Kamel al-Asaad, Prime Minister Rashid Karami, and Saeb Salam to Damascus; this assassination attempt was foiled. A few days later, the Lebanese Arab Army128 (LAA) was marching toward the presidential palace in a bid to force President Sleiman Frangieh to resign.