Lebanese Forces (militia)

Lebanese Forces القوات اللبنانية
Cross of Resistance flag of the Lebanese Forces militia, adopted in 1984
Also known as	Ouwet
Leaders	Bachir Gemayel Fadi Frem Fouad Abou Nader Elie Hobeika Samir Geagea
Dates of operation	1976–1994
Group(s)	Kataeb Party Lebanese Front
Headquarters	Ashrafieh, Karantina (Beirut), Amsheet, Bikfaya
Active regions	East Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Beqaa Valley, South Lebanon
Ideology	Conservatism Christian nationalism Lebanese nationalism Anti-communism Falangism Phoenicianism Maronism Muslim-Christian Unity Factions: Anti-Palestinianism Anti-Arabism
Political position	Right-wing to far-right
Status	Disbanded
Size	12,000
Allies	Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-Gemayel faction) Internal Security Forces Tigers Militia Guardians of the Cedars (until 1982) Israel Defense Forces (until 1982) Al-Tanzim Lebanese Youth Movement Tyous Team of Commandos Army of Free Lebanon South Lebanon Army
Opponents	Lebanese National Movement People's Liberation Army Amal Movement Al-Mourabitoun PNO SSNP-L Tigers Militia Marada Brigade LFEC Hezbollah Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-Aoun faction) PLO Syrian Armed Forces Israel Defense Forces (after 1982)
Battles and wars	Lebanese Civil War Siege of Tel al-Zaatar 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 one of the main Lebanese Christian factions of the Lebanese Civil War. Originally an umbrella organization for different parties, the Lebanese Forces later became a separate organization. The Lebanese Forces replaced the previous Kataeb Regulatory Forces as the military arm of the Christian Kataeb Party. 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 Army among other enemies. The group gained infamy for their perpetration of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, which primarily targeted Palestinian refugees following Gemayel's assassination.