In the aftermath of the June–September 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, President Amin Gemayel, convinced that a strong and unified national defense force was a prerequisite to rebuilding the nation, announced plans to raise a 60,000-man army organized into twelve brigades (created from existing infantry regiments), trained and equipped by France and the United States. In late 1982, the 7th Infantry Regiment was therefore re-organized and expanded to a brigade group numbering 2,000 men, most of whom were Maronite Christians from the Akkar and Koura Districts of northern Lebanon, and Shia Muslims and Druzes from the Chouf District, which became on June 20, 1983 at Scout City – Batroun, the 7th Infantry Brigade.[1]