The 1983 bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon was a significant event in bringing terrorism into the worldview of the United States. In early June 1982, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) invaded southern Lebanon in an attempt to stop Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rockets from falling on northern Israel. The PLO had come to southern Lebanon in 1970 after being removed from Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan. The PLO was founded by Palestinian refugees with the idea of defeating Israel and establishing a Palestinian state in its place.
Although initially welcomed, the Israeli forces quickly overstayed their welcome and drew the resentment of the Lebanese population, especially the Shia Islam population in southern Lebanon. By August an agreement was reach that allowed members of the PLO to leave Lebanon. At the request of nearly elected Lebanese president, Bachir Gemaye, a Multinational Force (MNF) was deployed to Beirut to oversee the retreat of PLO members. Once the PLO members were removed, the US redeployed US Marines out of Beirut.
Following the PLO retreat, Lebanese President Bachir Gemaye was assassinated. Shortly thereafter, a Lebanese-Christian militia aligned with Gemaye and backed by the IDF carried out a massacre in the Sabra neighborhood and the Shatila refugee camp, killing mostly Palestinians and Lebanese-Shias. Following these events and a renewed outbreak of violence, the US Marines returned to Beirut, joining their French and Italian counterparts.
Despite the presence of the MNF, sectarian tension among Lebanon’s 13 recognized sects lead to continued warring amongst them. Many in Lebanon were disenfranchised by the US and Israel support to Lebanese-Christians. This was especially true for the Lebanese-Shia who began to receive support from the new Shia government in Iran. Iran sent trainers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to Lebanon in an attempt to consolidate the various Lebanese-Shia factors. In time this effort would create the US designated terrorist group, Hezbollah.
On 18 April 1983, a suicide bomber in an explosive laden van drove into the US Embassy in Beirut and detonated. The resulting explosion killed 63 people, including 17 Americans. Most of the Americans were Central Intelligence Agency employees and those killed included CIA Near East Director Robert Ames and Beirut CIA Station Chief Kenneth Haas. The attack was attributed to the Islamic Jihad, or Islamic Jihad Organization, a group affiliated with or part of Hezbollah.
On the morning of 23 October 1983, while a majority of the Marine battalion landing team (BLT) was still asleep, a truck carrying an equivalent of approximately 9,525 kilograms (21,000 pounds) of TNT sped towards the Marine barracks. Due to the standing rules of engagement, none of the Marines on duty had a round chambered in their weapons and none were able to take action to prevent or disable the truck from ramming into the barracks and exploding. The blast resulted in the death 241 US service members.
10 minutes after the blast at the Marine barracks, a nearly identical attack was carried out at the French paratroopers barracks. 58 French paratroopers died in the blast.
The US responded in mid-December 1983, by striking targets near Beirut with the USS New Jersey’s 16-inch gun. The US conducted additional airstrikes against targets in Lebanon and Syria. Syria and Iran were believed to have supported the Islamic Jihad in planning the attacks. US President Ronald Reagan ordered the US to withdraw from Lebanon and the last Marine left Beirut on 26 February 1984. Prior to the last Marine leaving Lebanon, the USS New Jersey fired a large quantity of 16-inch rounds against Islamic Jihad associated targets in the Beqaa Valley area of Lebanon.
The Beirut Barracks Bombing would eventually lead to a number of changes throughout the US military. Most were recommendations as presented in retired US Admiral Robert Long’s report, commonly referred to as the Long Commission Report.
