After ten days of Elie Hobeika's deportation, fighters from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) militia supported by Syrian Army tanks and field artillery devastated the Lebanese Army positions on the Hills overlooking Bikfaya, the home town of President Amine Gemayel, in the Northern Matn district. The 8th Brigade was ordered to swiftly counterattack and block the SSNP militiamen from progressing deeper towards Bikfaya. After three days of fierce fighting, the Brigade stemmed the advance, restored the Army defensive lines, and drove the SSNP fighters back to their original positions in the Dhour El Choueir village.