The Battle of Zahle: When Lebanon Became the Front Line of a Regional Showdown The conflict in Zahle between 1980 and 1981 marked one of the most dangerous turning points of the Lebanese Civil War. What began as a local siege quickly became a confrontation between the Lebanese Forces, led by Bashir Gemayel, and Syrian troops operating under the Arab Deterrent Forces. As Zahle came under heavy pressure, Gemayel turned to Israel for support, triggering a wider regional crisis. Israeli air strikes