Souk El Gharb
On 13 August 1989, following three days of continuous Syrian shelling to suppress Lebanese Army defenses and its military facilities, large numbers of heavy-equipped Druze PSP/PLA fighters and leftist militias attacked the Souk el Gharb Front. The Druze PSP/PLA militia, reinforced by Soviet T-55A tanks and supported by heavy artillery, occupied the high ground of "Keyfoun's Fortress" and penetrated other parts of the Souk El Gharb Front while attempting to descend the ridge towards the Presidential Palace. The 8th Brigade was redeployed to restore the lines and to push out the Druze PSP/PLA's advancement. After a severe daylong battle, the Druze were demoralized by the on rushing 8th Brigade's infantry troops and armored units. The Druze fighters were "routed" in full flight out of the occupied areas and at five o'clock in the evening their defeat was total. Local and international Newspapers, Radio and TV stations blared out the news of this battle as a great victory for General Salim Kallas and his brave soldiers.