Folio Series: Lebanon ’82 of the Syrian Army and the PLO, which are dispersed throughout the region. These two forces have some coordination limitations imposed one them. This is refl ected in the fi re support rules, which allows a limited support of a different faction.

The Syrians also have SAM sites which can give the some pause as a hit from these will permanantly remove an air support unit from the game. There are six of these sites on the map. Only the Israeli Army receives reinforcements. These consist of the 96th . These units may use amphibious landing to fl ank the Syrian and PLO forces.

One advantage that the Arab player has is that the Syrian Commandos and the PLO units are not affected by the Israelis ZOC. The game is potentially 30 turns , but is of variable length. The length of the game is a measure of the level of International Pressure exhibited. This is affected by Israeli and Syrian losses. Each depletion adjusts the turn end by one space and each elimination by two spaces. The Israelis win by destroying all of the Arab units and the Arabs win by remaining on the map. Simple enough.

Turn 1

Both sides select their fi re support markers. The Israelis have their full 14 and the Arabs have a total of nine support chits. The Israeli player could attempt to knock out the SAM sites to free the Israeli Air Force from it by E.R. Bickford AAR of Lebanon ’82 as a threat. Instead he decides to take the sites out from the ground. Production: Operation Peace for Galilee We’ll see if this is a good strategy. Chris Dickson Operation Peace for Galilee is a The Israeli 91st Division moves north- © 2013 Decision Games simulation of the Israeli invasion ward along the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon in 1982, an attempt to to Tyre. The PLO is situated there and Bakersfi eld, CA. clear out PLO terrorists, and expel occupies the town and both bastion elements of the Syrian army from positions along the road to the west. the country. Hoping to establish Then the Israeli 162nd Division moves the pro-Israeli Christians as the through the town of Bent Jubail, while legitimate government in Lebanon, the 36th Division fl anks it to the east. the Israelis sent in infantry and The 769/36 Mech Brigade drives all armored forces, which soon became the way to the Litani River. The 90th embroiled in vicious urban battles. Division enters the town of Mariayoun.

The Israeli player is the fi rst player in At this early stage of the invasion, the this game. Their foil is a combination Israeli player wants to gain control

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A1 Folio Series: Lebanon ’82 Alras Jouaiya. This is a costly attack as it ends in an exchange. The Israeli 514th Tank Brigade suffers a depletion, while the extremists are destroyed. The Vardi Division launches an attack on the PLO in the town of Amoun. The Arabs are defending behind the Litani River. These forces are driven back and retreat to Nabatiya. The 375th Brigade uses the Mobile move to get into contact with the Muslim Extremists in Tyre. An attack successfully dislodges this unit, which retreats northward.

The Arab player decides to look for defensible terrain. Several of the PLO units fall back across the Litani River line on the western side of the map. Other PLO units move behind the Awali River farther north. The Syrian forces hunker down in their positions, somewhat protected from the Israeli Airforce by their SAM sites. This Israelis have lost a net of one turn on the game, but three PLO units are eliminated.

Turn 2

Both sides have all of their available fi re support markers this turn. This Israeli Army advances farther into enemy territory. In the center, the 252nd Division moves into contact with the PLO at the town of Hasbaita. The Arabs of the southern map. Starting on the left fl ank, the 91st Division is used to attack the bastions near Tyre. Both sides have support, but the Israeli needs De (defender eliminated) results to capture a bastion. This is obtained as the 769th Mech Brigade strikes the center bastion, which is defended by a PLO unit.

Then the 211th Tank Brigade attacks the PLO in the eastern bastion. Again the Israeli Airforce makes an appear- ance. The Arabs respond with Syrian ground support. These attacks on bastions need to be done on the +10 column and even then only have a one-third chance of success. Another two is rolled on the d6 and the PLO unit is eliminated. Although these do count toward victory, the PLO losses do not lengthen the game turns.

Next, the Israeli 162nd Division engages the Muslim Extremists in the town of

A2 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | face overwhelming strength here. The Israeli 7th Tank Brigade has crossed the river (negat8ing its effects), but the PLO unit is in rough terrain anyway. The attack results in an exchange. The game end track drops to Turn 28.

The Israeli 90th Division fi nally meets some of the Syrian units. The Syrian 91st Tank Brigade is defending in the rough terrain south of the SAM site near Mashgara. The Israelis are careful not to uses their Airforce in this area, so the Syrians take advantage of this and employ their air support in defense. The combat result is a retreat and the Arab player decides to use stiff resistance. The 91st Tank suffers a depletion and holds the ground. He did this to protect the SAMs. It may not have been worth it though. The game end increases to turn 29.

The Vardi Division has moved into the town of Nabatiya. Just to their west sits another PLO formation. The Israeli Air During the Mobile Phase, the Israelis Turn 3 Force supports the attack. A defender try another attack on the Muslim retreats result allows the PLO forces Extremists. This attack results in an Again, both sides have all of their to escape. The PLO can ignore Israeli exchange. This is good for the Arab fi re support counters. This Israelis ZOC so it is diffi cult to pin them down player. The PLO unit is eliminated, maneuver in the west to surround without surrounding them entirely. but the Israeli 91st Division suffers the PLO deployed there. This will another depletion. The game end prevent them from escaping with The 375th Brigade has outfl anked returns to Turn 28. The Arab retreat results. Since these units the Arabs’ position to the northwest player decides to fall back toward are relatively slow, the Israeli player of the Litani River. A PLO extremist Beirut. The PLO units re-deploy. has been able to round them up. It unit is attacked. The enemy is is likely that retreat results will be hiding in rough terrain, but the converted to stiff resistance though. Israeli Air Force supports the attack. The combat result is no effect. [Photo 4 PLO surrounded] The westernmost attack results in an exchange. This drops the game end to Turn 27. The attack on the PLO unit in the center area is another exchange. The Arab unit is eliminated but the game end drops to Turn 26. The last of the PLO units in the Nabatiya area survives by offering stiff resistance. This doesn’t hurt the Israelis but ties some of the units down. The PLO unit is fl ipped to its depleted side.

Next, the Israeli 90th Division attacks the Syrians in the center, near the town of Mashgara. The Syrian 91st Tank Brigade is the target. It defends in rough terrain. The battle culminates in an exchange. Both sides lose a step to depletion. The 91st Tank Brigade is destroyed.

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A3 Folio Series: Lebanon ’82 The Israeli player launches another has devastating effects and the Arab attacks to make. The Israelis have attack, this time on the Syrian 58th force is destroyed. A second air strike superior fi re support at this point. Tank Brigade. The Syrian unit is destroys another PLO unit near Chim. defending in the rough terrain south Turn 5 of Rashayyah. Both sides use fi re The PLO unit holding out just north support. The CRT yields an exchange. of Nabatiya is fi nally destroyed as it The Arabs’ fi re support drops by Both sides deplete a unit. Meanwhile, cannot retreat. (It was surrounded). one marker this turn. The Israeli fi re the Israeli 880th Division is turning the Then the 252nd Division attacks the support remains the same. The Israeli Arab fl ank on the east. These units Syrian 58th Tank Brigade south of Air Force fl ies a mission against the move through the town of Qatana. Rashayyah. The tank brigade has PLO in Beirut. This has no effect. already been depleted from earlier That’s it for bombardment this time. The Arab player forms a defensive fi ghting. Another exchange results position anchored from the lake on the CRT die roll. The 58th Tank is The 91st Division has a PLO unit caught through Rashayyah. Several Syrian eliminated along with the Israeli 424th. in Ein Hilwah. This is an Arab bastion commando units are maneuvered In a nearby contact, the Israeli 90th so a De result is needed. The die roll toward the east to address the fl anking Division attacks a Syrian commando is a two which yields the necessary move by the Israeli 880th Division. unit. This results in an exchange. The defender eliminated result. The The Arabs remain on the defensive. Israeli 943rd Tank Brigade is destroyed. Israeli 162nd Division has a Muslim A fi nal attack is performed by the Israeli Extremist unit engaged along the Awali Turn 4 90th Division. This one has no effect. River near Chim. This results in an exchange. The PLO unit is eliminated The fi re support is the same as last The Arab forces look for improved and the Israelis suffer a depletion. turn for both players. The Israeli player defensive terrain. Syrian com- This drops the game end to Turn 25. decides to use some bombardment mandos prepare defensive position fi re. The Israeli Airforce fl ies in in the center near the town Joub In fi ghting near the town of Mashgara, against the PLO unit in Chim. This Jannine. There are no benefi cial the Israeli 90th Division pushes a

A4 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | Syrian commando unit back. The 252nd Division strikes at another Syrian commando battalion southeast of Mashgara. This unit also retreats northward. The 252nd Division also attacks the commandos that are guarding the SAMs in the southeast sector. The commando battalion retreats, leaving the SAMs exposed. The advancing Israeli units destroy the SAMs. The Arab forces fall back on their defensive position again. They run from the lake to the towns of Mashgara and Rashayyah.

Turn 6

This Israelis have 14 fi re support markers and the Arabs eight. The Israeli player moves his forces forward. The 91st Division advances along the coast toward the town of Damour. The 36th Division takes the road from Sidon to the village, Jazzin. Next, the 162nd Division moves onto the western fl ank near Mashgara. Turn 7 The Israeli Air Force launches an air strike against the PLO units The fi re support markers are still 14 deployed in Beirut. This has no Israeli to 8 Arab. Now that the SAM site effect. A second sortie is launched near Rashayyah is destroyed, it is safe over a different part of the city. One for the Israeli Air Force to fl y sorties PLO unit is depleted as a result. there. This results in one of the Syrian commandos suffering depletion. The Israeli 162nd Division attacks Likewise, the Syrian commandos in the Syrian commando unit on the Mashgara also are hit by the Israeli Air western side of the Litani River near Force. Another depletion is effected. Mashgara. This results in an exchange. Artillery bombardment depletes anoth- Both sides suffer a step depletion. er Syrian unit due east of Mashgara. The Israeli 90th Division attacks the Syrian 78th Tank Brigade next. It Next, the Israeli 252nd Division attacks is defending a SAM site. The Arab the Syrian commandos in Rashayyah. player decides to take the retreat. This is covered on both sides with fi re support. The Syrians retreat In another assault, the 7/252 Brigade and the Israeli 401st Tank Brigade suffers a depletion in its effort to take captures Rashayyah. The Israeli 525th out a PLO unit. The combat result Tank Brigade strikes the Syrians at is exchange. The game end drops to Mashgara. This results in an exchange. Turn 24. The 880th Division attacks The Syrian commando is destroyed. the Syrian commando battalion in The 880th Division attacks in the the mountains south of Az Zabdani. northeastern mountains but this has This is also an exchange. The Syrians no effect. The Syrians deploy in the Turn 8 are playing for time. It looks like it is mountains near Joub Jannine. This running out, however the attrition does open them up to the danger of The Israelis take 14 fi re support mark- still favors them. A few adjustments becoming surrounded, but the Arab ers and the Arabs eight. The Israeli are made in the defensive positions. player wants to protect the SAMs in Army begins an encirclement in the the center for as long as possible. It Syrian center. Then the Air Force will keep the Israeli Air Force away. launches some strikes against the PLO in Beirut. This is somewhat effective as the enemy suffers a depletion. A second air strike in the city has no effect.

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A5 Folio Series: Lebanon ’82

Then the Israelis begin the ground phase. The 401st Tank Brigade drives a Syrian commando battalion to the rear. Most of the battle occurs in the mountains in the center of the map. There is one exchange result between the Israeli and Syrian forces. The rest of the combats result in various Syrian retreats. The position is folding in on itself for the Syrians. The attacks in the northeast, by the Israeli 880th Division are continuing to stall.

Turn 9

This is the last turn that the Israeli play- er has 14 support markers. Therefore, he is opting to use them in the SAM zones. The Israeli army attempts to close in on the Syrian forces central position. One of the Israeli air units is shot down. The other is okay. An attack is launched by the Israelis and this

A6 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | manages an exchange. At this point the attrition rate slightly favors the Israelis.

Next, the Israeli 90th Division raids the Syrian 78th Tank Brigade. The Israelis have air support and this brings the combat down to another exchange result. The 78th Tank suffers a depletion along with the 70th Division. Near Joub Jannine, the 36th Division attacks a Syrian commando battalion. The commandos are destroyed by a defender eliminated result. This increases the game length to 25 Turns. Fighting in the Az Zabdani Mountains results in another exchange. The Syrian commander decides to give up the center. He retreats his forces toward the northward. There, the safety of the mountains rests. The Syrian troops are not there yet though.

Turn 10

The Israelis take only 11 fi re support chits this time. The Arabs drop to 7 support markers too. The Israeli Army chases the Syrians into the mountains. The two remaining air support units are used to barrage the PLO forces in Beirut. This has no effect. Then during the ground combat the 880th Division drives a PLO unit back with a retreat result.

The Israeli 252nd Division assaults a Syrian commando battalion in open terrain. The Syrians escape making a hasty retreat toward the north. The 36th Division strikes the Syrian 47th Mech Brigade which also retreats to the rear. Most of the combats result in Syrian retreats, just what the Arab player wants. Then during his turn, the Syrian player falls back into better positions.

Turn 11 both sides’ units become depleted. press for the Israelis and it moves the Then the 252nd Division raids the Game End marker back up to Turn 27. The fi re support markers are distrib- commandos in the same mountain uted. Eleven to the Israeli player and range. There is another exchange. In turn, the Golani Mech Brigade 7 to the Arab player. The Israeli Army attacks a PLO unit across the advances into contact with the retreat- The Israeli 90th Division attacks the northern Litani River. This results in ing Arab forces. Then the air force Syrian 82nd Tank Brigade. This unit is an exchange. The Game End drops performs a strike against the PLO head- defending the SAM site. This leaves it back down to Turn 26. Another attack quarters in Beirut. This has no effect. in a dangerous position: open terrain. is aimed at the Syrian commandos The Israelis have suffi cient support in the central mountain. The Israeli The Israeli 880th Division launches a to maximize the assault and the 514th Tank Brigade suffers depletion supported attack against the Syrians 82nd Tank Brigade suffers a defender along with the Syrian troops. in the Az Zabdani Mountains. eliminated result. This is positive This results in an exchange and

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A7 Folio Series: Lebanon ’82

Turns 14-16

On Turn 14 the Israeli 880th Division in Az Zabdani defeats the Syrian commandos in the Mountains of Az Zabdani. This is at the cost of a step of armored strength. The 252nd Division also trades steps with the last commando in Az Zabdani Mountain.

On turn 15, the Israeli Air Force fi nally gain some results on the PLO, destroying a unit in Beirut. Then the 880th Division fi nishes off the last of the Syrian forces in Az Zabdani Mountain.

On turn 16, the Arabs’ fi re support markers drop to 6 chits. The Israeli Air strikes on Beirut yield another casualty to the PLO. The Israeli Army exchanges losses with the Syrians at a break even rate. The Game End remains at Turn 27. During the Arab player turn, the depleted units. The Syrian player Syrian forces in the center and east redeploys to his defensive advantage. Turns 17-19 maneuver into the best available terrain. The Syrian commander Turn 13 An air strike is launched on Beirut sends some commandos into the on turn 17, but it has no effect. With last remaining SAM site. Both sides receive their support the current fi re support disparity, the markers. The Israeli Air Force attacks Israelis decide to launch an artillery Turn 12 the PLO headquarters in Beirut. attack against the Syrian commandos There is no effect from this. Israeli caught between Beirut and the The support markers are replaced units from the 880th Division roll central mountains. That unit suffers at 11 to , respectively. The Israeli into the town of Az Zabdani. These a depletion. Most of the ground Air Force immediately launches a units attack the Syrian troops to the combat is repulsed and the Israeli strike in Beirut. This has no effect. north. The 880th Division’s attack on forces have to retreat. Fortunately Then the 880th Division attacks the the 62nd Tank Brigade goes nowhere; they are not taking any losses; they are 78th Tank Brigade, again. Both sides it stalls. An attack on the western just losing time. The Syrian western suffer casualties, but the Syrian side of the Az Zabdani Mountains fl ank begins collapsing after one tanks are eliminated this time. In also stalls with a no effect result. successful attack on the commandos the Az Zabdani Mountains, the 252nd in the rough terrain east of Beirut. Division knocks out another Syrian The two sides trade fi re at the town commando unit. The Israeli 401st of Riyaq. The units on both sides On turn 18, the Israelis begin to fi ght Brigade suffers a depletion as well. At become depleted. In the central in the streets of Beirut. This is still this point, the Syrians have only two mountains, the Israeli 36th Division defended by two PLO commando units. more weak units in these mountains. attacks the 47th Tank Brigade, a The commandos are forced to retreat. full-strength unit. As a result of the The 252nd Division hits the 42nd Mech The battle shifts to the center. Here, overwhelming fi re support the Syrian Brigade in the northern mountains. the 36th Division attacks a depleted tanks are driven back in retreat. Both sides suffer depletions. Heavy commando battalion. Both sides suffer fi ghting in the mountainous town losses and the commando unit is Another attack is aimed at the of Chtoura results in an exchange. eliminated. These type of exchanges do mountain town of Chtoura. This is Both sides lose a unit in battle in the not affect the game end because they defended by a strong Syrian com- northern mountains. The Arabs have cancel each other out. Another com- mando battalion. The Israelis bring only eight formations left on the map. mando is eliminated at the Syrian SAM the 90th Division to move against it. site. This raises the Game End to Turn This attack fails with a no effect result. On turn 19, the Israeli fi re support 27. The Vardi Brigade attacks the Syrian The Syrian player is happy with the drops to 8 markers to the Arabs 6 commandos in the central mountains. defensive effort of his army this turn. markers. This will make the going This exchange leaves both sides with tough for the Israeli player. The 91st Division knocks out another PLO

A8 | AFTER ACTION REPORT | The Israeli player continues his attacks on Turn 22. Syrian commandos west of Riyaq are eliminated in an exchange. Then another com- mando battalion is destroyed in a trade off in the mountains west of Chtoura. The Syrians in the northern mountains hold off the attacker again. What a determined unit.

As of turn 23, the Arabs are down to fi ve support markers per turn. There are only two Syrian units left. These are ensconced in the northern mountains but they are also surrounded. These troops represent only four steps, while the Israeli Army has 15 steps of strength. The disparity in fi re support is currently is 26 to 13 points in favor of the Israelis. There are only 5 turns left in the game though. The Syrians will have to be extremely lucky. The Syrians lose one step on turn 23. Then two on turn 24, which increases the length of the game to Turn 28. Then on Turn 25 the last Syrian unit in opposition is destroyed.

The Israelis have parts of six divi- sion left. The 880th Division has the unit in the city of Beirut. There is still for the Israeli Army. Most of the attack 767th and the 645th Brigades, both one commando making its presence forces retreat after being repulsed. depleted. The 162nd Division with the felt there. The 880th Division and the 514th and 500th Brigades, depleted. Syrian 47th Tank Brigade fi ght it out in On turn 21 the Israeli attacks are The 7/152nd Brigade depleted. The the northern mountains. Both sides quite weak. The small commando 141st/90 Brigade full-strength. The suffer casualties and the Syrian unit battalion on the eastern side of the 91st Division with the 375th Brigade is destroyed. Time is running out for center mountains turns back a heavily full-strength and the 211th Brigade the Arabs, who are down to six units. supported assault by the 880th Division. reduced. Last, the 35/96th Brigade at The commandos in the northern full-strength. This is an Israeli victory. Turns 20-27 mountains also fi ght to a stalemate. The unit in Chtoura fi nally eliminates The last PLO unit in Beirut is elimi- the Syrian commandos and the nated on turn 20. The attacks in the town will soon fall to the Israelis. northern mountains turn out poorly

| AFTER ACTION REPORT | A9