Battle of Jezzine (1982)

Battle of Jezzine
Part of the 1982 Lebanon War
A destroyed Syrian T-62 Tank burning on the road outside of Jezzine
Date June 8, 1982 Location Jezzine, Lebanon Result Tactical Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Syria
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Sefi Schauman Lt. Col. Benny Lidor Col. Hagai Cohen Capt. Tzur Maor  †	Hafez Al-Assad
Strength
2 tank battalions A reconnaissance company An engineering platoon	1 battalion Several commando companies
Casualties and losses
6 dead 11 wounded 4 tanks destroyed 5 tanks damaged (Israeli claim) 10 tanks destroyed/damaged (Syrian claim)	20 tanks destroyed 4 tanks damaged 3 armored vehicles destroyed Commando unit destroyed

The Battle of Jezzine was fought on June 8, 1982 between the Israeli Army and the Syrian Army in the Lebanese town of Jezzine. It was the first battle between Israel and Syria in the 1982 Lebanon War. It resulted in Israel capturing the town.

Jezzine was considered strategically important due to its location near a junction in which one road passed through the town and led to the southern Beqaa Valley and the other led north to Jebel Baruk, passing west of Lake Qaraoun. Menachem Einan's division was driving down a road that ended in a fork west of Jezzine and had to pass through the town. Control of both the town and the junction would have given the IDF access to the southern Beqaa Valley from the west. The Syrian 424th Infantry Battalion was stationed in the town. On June 7, Syria detected an Israeli division advancing north and sent several commando companies and a tank battalion to ambush the Israelis on their way to Jezzine.

On the night of Tuesday June 8, Israeli Defense Minister, Ariel Sharon, said at a meeting in the Northern Command headquarters "We know today that there will be a direct confrontation with the Syrians" and argued that it would be best to move deeper into Lebanon. He said to the other officers that "We have to build a context because we know that tomorrow we will take on the Syrians". Israel was not yet aware that a reduced Syrian battalion of tanks and a commando unit had joined the defending forces in Jezzine.

Einan was ordered to reach the main highway as quickly as possible. He avoided the crossroads as he closed in on the town at 1:00 AM on Tuesday, June 8. He left a blocking force behind as he pushed north. The blocking force spilled over the slope above the town and opened fire on the Syrians. It did not assault the town, but a battle ensued and the IDF lost two tanks. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone had discovered a Syrian force moving south through the Shouf Mountains toward Jezzine. Israeli Air Force planes accurately attacked that Syrian force. The Syrian Surface-to-air missile (SAM)s, were not activated against them.

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