Lebanese Forces (militia)

Lebanese Forces
القوات اللبنانية
Lebanese Forces; القوات اللبنانية
	Cross of Resistance flag adopted by the Lebanese Forces in 1984
Founder	Bachir Gemayel
Leaders	Bachir Gemayel (1976–1982); Fadi Frem (1982–1984); Fouad Abou Nader (1984–1985); Elie Hobeika (1985–1986); Samir Geagea (1986–1994)
Dates of operation	1976–1994
Headquarters	Military Council in Karantina, Beirut (until 1990); Ghidras, Keserwan District (until 1994)
Active regions	East Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Beqaa Valley, South Lebanon
Ideology	Lebanese nationalism; Christian nationalism; Conservatism; Anti-communism; Maronism; Federalism; Factions: ; Anti-Palestinianism; Anti-Pan Arabism; Falangism; Phoenicianism
Political position	Right-wing to far-right
Status	Disarmed
Size	44,500 men (at height)
Allies	Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-government faction); Internal Security Forces; Israel Defense Forces (until 1982); Iraq (since 1986); Army of Free Lebanon; South Lebanon Army
Opponents	Lebanese National Movement; Lebanese National Resistance Front ; Progressive Socialist Party/ People's Liberation Army (Lebanon); Amal Movement; Al-Mourabitoun; PNO; SSNP-L/Eagles of the Whirlwind; Tigers Militia (1980); Marada Brigade; LFEC; Hezbollah; Lebanese Armed Forces (pro-Aoun faction); PLO; Syrian Arab Armed Forces; Israel (since 1986)
Battles and wars	Israeli–Lebanese conflict; Lebanese Civil War 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 the main Lebanese Christian faction during the Lebanese Civil War. Resembling the Lebanese Front, which was an umbrella organization for different parties, the Lebanese Forces was a militia that integrated fighters originating from the different Christian right-wing paramilitary groups, the largest of which was the Kataeb Party's militia. It was mainly staffed by Maronites and Christians of other denominations loyal to Bachir Gemayel, and fought against the Lebanese National Movement, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the Syrian Armed Forces among others. The group gained infamy for their perpetration of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, which primarily targeted Palestinian refugees following Bachir Gemayel's assassination.