War of Elimination (1990, Lebanon)
The War of Elimination (or War of Attrition, Arabic: حرب الإلغاء) is an inter-Christian military conflict, within the final phase of the Lebanese Civil War, that took place in late January 1990, between the Lebanese Army, led by General Michel Aoun and the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, where hundreds were killed and thousands injured. The confrontation ended with the Syrian army invading the Christian areas, the exile of Aoun to France, and Geagea's 11 years imprisonment. This marked the end of the civil war, and as some believe, the Christians losing  the war. Background. On 22 September 1988, Michel Aoun, the Commander of the Army at the time, was appointed by president Amine Gemayel as the head of the Lebanese Government. On 14 March 1989, Aoun declared the War of Liberation against the Syrian occupation army in Lebanon. On 31 January 1990, Aoun launched an offensive against the Lebanese Forces in East Beirut. In the months that followed, over 1000 people were killed. A month later in March, Aoun declared a halt to the fighting and announced his willingness to accept the Taif Agreement with some amendments. This confrontation ended with  the Syrian army invading the Christian areas, the exile of Aoun to France, and Geagea's imprisonment after three years, due to a diagreement with the Syrians. Etymology. The war came to be known as the "war of elimination" "(حرب الإلغاء)", the term which was used by the LF to denote the attempt by Aoun to eliminate it. However, Aoun used the term "Weapon Unification Battle" (معركة توحيد البندقية) since he claimed his purpose was to submit all weapons in the country to the Lebanese Army. Nonetheless, the weapons are still possessed today by parties other than the government, like  Hezbollah. Allegations. Some believe that the war was agreed between Aoun and the Syrians, in order to eliminate the Lebanese Forces and allow the Syrian army to enter the Christian Area, in return for Aoun's presidency. However, when the Syrians did not keep the promise, he declared the War of Libaration on the Syrians. However, 26 years later, in 2016 Aoun became the president of Lebanon.