The War of Elimination (Arabic: حرب الإلغاء or War of Attrition, also known as the Aoun-Geagea War) was an inter-Christian military conflict within the final phase of the Lebanese Civil War as part of the War of Liberation which took place between January and October 1990. It was fought between the Lebanese Army, led by General Michel Aoun, and the Lebanese Forces, led by Samir Geagea. The confrontation led to the total devastation of the Eastern Canton and ended with the Syrian army invading the Christian areas, Aoun's exile to France and subsequently the end of the civil war.
Background
On 22 September 1988, Michel Aoun, the commander of the Army at the time, was appointed by president Amine Gemayel as the head of the Lebanese government.
On 14 March 1989, Aoun declared the War of Liberation against the Syrian occupation army in Lebanon.
On 31 January 1990, Aoun launched an offensive against the Lebanese Forces in East Beirut. In the months that followed, over 1000 people were killed.
A month later in March, Aoun declared a halt to the fighting and announced his willingness to accept the Taif Agreement with some amendments.
This confrontation ended with the Syrian army invading the Christian areas, the exile of Aoun to France, and Geagea's imprisonment after three years, due to a disagreement with the Syrians.
Etymology
The conflict came to be known as the war of elimination (حرب الإلغاء), the term which was used by the LF to denote the attempt by Aoun to eliminate it. However, Aoun used the term Weapon Unification Battle (معركة توحيد البندقية) since he claimed his purpose was to submit all weapons in the country to the Lebanese Army. Nonetheless, the weapons are still possessed today by parties other than the government, like Hezbollah.
Allegations
Some believe that the war was agreed between Aoun and the Syrians, in order to eliminate the Lebanese Forces and allow the Syrian army to enter the Christian Area, in return for Aoun's presidency. However, when the Syrians did not keep the promise, he declared the War of Liberation on the Syrians. However, 26 years later, in 2016 Aoun became the president of Lebanon.