The South Lebanon Army (SLA) was a Lebanese militia established during the 1975–1976 Lebanese Civil War by Major Saad Haddad, a defected Lebanese Army officer, to secure southern Lebanon against Palestinian fedayeen incursions backed by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).[1] With Israeli military and logistical support, the SLA controlled a border „security zone“ from the late 1970s, evolving into Israel‘s primary local proxy force after Haddad‘s death in 1984, when retired General Antoine Lahad assumed command.[2] Comprising 2,500 to 3,000 fighters drawn mainly from Christian and other non-Shiite communities in a predominantly Shiite region, the SLA conducted patrols, ambushes, and defensive operations alongside the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[3]

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In May 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak implemented a unilateral withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon, fulfilling an election pledge from July 1999 to end the occupation of the security zone by July 2000, though accelerated due to mounting pressures.[64][3] On April 17, 2000, Israel formally notified the United Nations of its intent to withdraw in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 425, but proceeded without a negotiated agreement with Lebanon or Syria, leaving the South Lebanon Army (SLA) exposed to immediate collapse.[65][28] The withdrawal commenced on May 23 and concluded on May 24, 2000, with IDF forces pulling back to the 1949 armistice line amid rapid disintegration of SLA positions.[66][67]