South Lebanon Army

South Lebanon Army
جيش لبنان الجنوبي‎
Flag of the South Lebanon Army (1984–2000)
Founding leader	Saad Haddad (1977–1984)
Leaders	Antoine Lahad (1984–2000)
Dates of operation	October 1977 – May 2000
Headquarters	Marjayoun, Lebanon
Active regions	Southern Lebanon, Tyre, Sidon, Jabal Amel, West Beirut
Ideology	Lebanese nationalism Secularism Maronite politics Multiconfessionalism Muslim-Christian Unity Anti-communism
Status	Disbanded in May 2000
Size	c. 5,000 (early 1980s) c. 2,200 (1984)[1] c. 3,000 (early 1990s)
Allies	Israel Non-state actors: Tigers Militia Kataeb Regulatory Forces Guardians of the Cedars Lebanese Forces
Opponents	Hezbollah  Syria Palestine Liberation Organization Other parties: Amal Movement Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon (SSNP) Lebanese Communist Party/Popular Guard Lebanese National Movement (LNM) Lebanese National Resistance Front (LNRF–Jammoul)
Battles and wars	Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
Preceded by Army of Free Lebanon

The South Lebanon Army or South Lebanese Army (SLA; Arabic: جيش لبنان الجنوبي, Jayš Lubnān al-Janūbiyy), also known as the Lahad Army (جيش لحد) or as the De Facto Forces (DFF),^[2] was a Christian-dominated collaborationist militia in Lebanon. It was founded by Lebanese military officer Saad Haddad in 1977, amidst the Lebanese Civil War, and evolved to operate as a quasi-military during the South Lebanon conflict, basing itself in Haddad's unrecognized State of Free Lebanon.

Initially, it was known as the "Free Lebanon Army" after it broke away from the Army of Free Lebanon, another Christian-dominated militia. After 1979, the SLA's activity was almost exclusively confined to southernmost Lebanon.^[3] Under the aegis of Israel, the militia was bolstered by the 1982 Lebanon War. It came under increasing Israeli supervision following the collapse of the State of Free Lebanon in 1984 and subsequent establishment of the South Lebanon security belt administration.

As the most prominent pro-Israel militia in Israeli-occupied Lebanon, the SLA frequently engaged in armed clashes with Hezbollah, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and other militant groups.