Lebanese Forces (militia)

Lebanese Forces القوات اللبنانية
Cross of Resistance adopted by the Lebanese Forces in 1984
Founder	Bachir Gemayel
Leaders	Bachir Gemayel (1976–1982) Fadi Frem (1982–1984) Fouad Abou Nader (1984–1985) Elie Hobeika (1985–1986) Samir Geagea (1986–1994)
Dates of operation	1976–1994
Headquarters	Military Council in Karantina, Beirut (until 1990) Ghidras, Keserwan District (until 1994)
Active regions	East Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Beqaa Valley, South Lebanon
Ideology	Conservatism Christian nationalism Lebanese nationalism Anti-communism Maronism Federalism Factions: Anti-Palestinianism Anti-Arabism Phoenicianism
Political position	Right-wing to far-right
Status	Disarmed
Size	12,000 (1981) [1]
Allies	Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-government faction) Internal Security Forces Israel Defense Forces (until 1982) Iraq Army of Free Lebanon South Lebanon Army
Opponents	Lebanese National Movement People's Liberation Army Amal Movement Al-Mourabitoun PNO SSNP-L Tigers Militia (until 1980) Marada Brigade LFEC Hezbollah Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-Aoun faction) PLO Syrian Armed Forces
Battles and wars	Lebanese Civil War Hundred Days' War Battle of Zahleh Battle of Qnat 1982 Lebanon War Siege of Beirut Sabra-Shatila massacre Mountain War 1986 Lebanese Forces coup War of Liberation War of Elimination

The Lebanese Forces (Arabic: القوات اللبنانية, romanized: al-Quwwāt al-Lubnāniyya) was the main Lebanese Christian faction during the Lebanese Civil War. Resembling the Lebanese Front which was an umbrella organization for different parties, the Lebanese Forces was a militia consisting of fighters originating from the different right-wing parties. It was mainly staffed by Maronite Christians loyal to Bachir Gemayel, and fought against the Lebanese National Movement, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Syrian Armed Forces among others. The group gained infamy for their perpetration of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, which primarily targeted Palestinian refugees following Gemayel's assassination.