Multinational Force Arrives in Beirut to Oversee PLO Evacuation

August 21, 1982

American, French, and Italian troops supervise the evacuation of PLO forces from Lebanon’s capital. Terrorists and Syrian forces leaving Beirut was one of Israel’s principal goals during the 1982 Lebanon War.

After eight weeks of negotiations, during which Israel continued to apply pressure to the PLO and Syrian forces, eight countries emerged who were willing to give asylum to the PLO: Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Republic of South Yemen, North Yemen, Sudan, Tunisia and Algeria. A multinational force arrived in Beirut on the 21st and the evacuation began.

Approximately 14,000 PLO fighters left between August 21st and September 1st, PLO leader Yasser Arafat would leave Beirut on August 30th.