The Bhamdoun abduction operation (1982)

The Bhamdoun abduction operation
Part of the 1982 Lebanon War
Date 4 September 1982 Location IDF observation post north of Bhamdoun Result PLO victory
Belligerents
Israel	PLO
Commanders and leaders
Brig. Gen. Haim Oren Commander of Nahal Brigade	Issa Hajo Commander of al-Jarmaq battalion
Strength
8 IDF soldiers from Nahal Brigade	4 fighters from Fatah al-Jarmaq battalion
Casualties and losses
8 taken prisoners	No casualties

The Bhamdoun abduction operation was carried out by Fatah, the main constituent organization of the PLO. During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, a Palestinian four-man squad infiltrated the IDF-held mountainous area north of Bhamdoun, in central Lebanon, and attacked an IDF observation point, capturing the entire IDF unit without firing a single bullet. The Palestinian squad took eight Israeli soldiers as prisoners. This provided the Palestinian side with plenty of leverage in the two controversial prisoner exchanges with Israel, which freed 5,900 Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners.