stephen d. leece
The Multinational Force Beirut
The MNF was originally composed of French, Italian and US troops and their purpose was to oversee the safe departure of the PLO from Lebanon to other parts of the Middle East following the defeat of the PLO after Operation: PEACE FOR GALILEE.
Between August 19th and 31st 1982 14,398 PLO fighters and Syrian troops had left Beirut- the PLO leaving by sea and the Syrian 85th Brigade and PLA Auxiliaries by road along the Beirut-Damascus Highway.
By September 4th much of the MNF had departed with a justified sense of ‘Mission Accomplished’ but were replaced by other troops.
Amongst them were the British Army’s Queen’s Dragoon Guards who were based in Beirut from February 1983- February 1984.
The original company (less than 250 men) was C Squadron present from February to August and were replaced by A Squadron until December who were then relieved by a squad of the Queen’s Royal Lancers.
Equipped with Ferret Armoured cars, unkindly described by Katz and Russell as ‘antique’ (they had been out of production for just over a decade) all squads were billeted in South East Beirut, whereas the rest of the MNF was in South West Beirut.
The BRITFORLEB contingent was the only contingent of the MNF not to suffer casualties although they did come under fire from stray bullets to such an extent that BRITFORLEB’s paratrooper commander understandably requested a more active stance for his force.
BRITFORLEB troops were awarded the General Service Medal for their efforts and the MNF pin and patch.