Saad Haddad

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Saad Haddad
Haddad holding a press conference.
President of the State of Free Lebanon
In office 18 April 1979 – 14 January 1984
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	1936 (1936) Marjayoun, French Lebanon
Died	14 January 1984(1984-01-14) (aged 47–48) Marjayoun, Lebanon
Children	Arza
Occupation	Military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Free Lebanon Army
Battles/wars	Lebanese Civil War

Saad Haddad (Arabic: سعد حداد; 1936 – 14 January 1984) was a Lebanese military officer who was the founder and head of the South Lebanon Army (SLA) during the Lebanese Civil War. Originally a Major in the Lebanese Army, he defected and formed the SLA and created the separatist State of Free Lebanon backed by Israel. For years Haddad closely collaborated with and received arms and political support from Israel against Lebanese government forces, Hezbollah, and the Syrian Army. Haddad died of cancer in his house in Marjayoun.^[1]