| July 24, 1981 A cease-fire ending three years of Israel-Palestinian fighting is negotiated by President Reagan's special envoy, Philip Habib. June, 1982 The cease-fire is broken when Israel invades Lebanon, attacking the Syrian army. Israel cited the attempted assassiation of the Israeli ambassador in London by a dissident Palestinian group and the buildup of Palestinian forces in south Lebanon as the reason. The United Nations calls for Israel to withdraw. August 3, 1982 Israel invades Beirut August 4, 1982 The United Nations Security Council votes to censure Israel September 1, 1982 President Reagan announces a Middle East peace plan September 10, 1982 A force led by United States Marines, French Foreign Legionaires, and Italian forces from the San Marco Brigade completes the evacuation fo the PLO from Beirut and withdraws. September 14, 1982 Newly elected president of the Lebanese Republic, Bachir Gemayel, is assassinated before he can take office. September 15, 1982 Israel enters west Beirut. During the next three days, more than 700 Palestinian and Lebanese civilians are massacred by Christian Phalangists in refugee camps in west Beirut. Several days later the U.S. votes in favor of a United National Security Council resolution that calls for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. September 20, 1982 President Reagan orders U.S. Marines to return to Beirut to serve for "a limited period of time" in a multinational force charged with helping to re-establish the Lebanese government. September 30, 1982 Marine's first casualty. Corporal David L. Reagan is killed while clearing the airfield around the Beirut International Airport. Marines begin armed patrols throughout the city in a show of force and support for the Lebanese government. April 18, 1983 Car bomb explodes at U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing 61 and injuring more than 100. Islamic fundamentalists claim responsibility. May 17, 1983 Israel and Lebanon sign a peace treaty, which Syria refuses to acknowledge. Marines in and around Beirut International Airport become targets of incoming small arms, rocket and mortar fire from various warring factions. August, 1983 Civil war resumes in Lebanon when Israeli troops withdraw from the Shouf region and fighting begins between the Phalange Militia/Lebanese Army and the PLO/Druze alliance. Marines begin training selected soldiers to form the 8th Lebanese Infantry Brigade. Under orders from the President, the US battleship New Jersey and Navy carrier aircraft strike Druze Moslem targets in support of Lebanese forces. Combat escalates among guerilla forces and units of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force. September 25, 1983 A cease fire is negotiated. October 23, 1983 A suicide bomber drives a truck loaded with 12,000 pounds of explosives into the U.S. Marine headquarters at the Beirut International Airport, killing 241 and wounding 70. An almost simultaneous suicide attack destroys a building occupied by French paratroopers, killing 58. February 7, 1984 President Reagan announces that Marines will begin pulling out of Beirut. February 26, 1984 U.S. Marines leave Beirut.
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