1982: Operation Peace for the Galilee In the spring of 1982,
Palestinian terrorists entrenched themselves in Southern
Lebanon, creating an informal state-within-a-state. From there
they dispatched terrorists on murderous missions abroad and
fired Katyusha rockets and artillery at civilian targets in
Israel's northern Galilee region. On June 3, 1982, Israeli
Ambassador Shlomo Argov was gunned down and critically wounded
near his London home. The next day Israeli jets bombed P.L.O.
ammunition depots and training bases. This triggered a massive
P.L.O. bombardment against Israel's northern settlements,
causing extensive damage and loss of life. On June 6, the IDF
launched Operation Peace for the Galilee with the purpose of
removing the threat to Israel's northern settlements. Israeli
units advanced along three major north-south routes, destroying
P.L.O. bases and their terrorist infrastructure along the way.
IAF fighters and attack helicopters bombed terrorist
strongholds, clearing the way for the ground forces.