Zahle is one of the biggest Christian cities in the North and in Lebanon as a whole, and faced one of the fiercest military and political battles between the Lebanese Forces led by Bashir Gemayel and the Syrian troops.

The Lebanese Forces even though outnumbered managed to resist and keep the Syrians out. The fighters from Beirut who came to assist their comrads in Zahle had to walk through snowy roads through the mountains, some of them died on their way, but most of them made it and made sure to keep the Syrian out.

Bashir Gemayel’s leadership became uncontested after Zahle’s political and military victory, and he later on organized a large ceremony to congratulate the Zahle fighters and honour the martyrs.

Outcome of this battle that started on the 3rd of April 1981 and ended on the 1st of July 1981.

232 kills.
765 injured.
& considerable material damages.

May all our martyrs rest in peace.

You can find below a card the LF team from both sites www.lebanese-forces.org and www.lebaneseforces.com put last year in Zahle’s Church in honour of the martyrs who fell.