Turkish foreign policy during the Lebanon civil war (1975-1992)

The first civilizations date back to A.D. 3000 in today's Lebanon. Lebanon fell into Ottoman rule in 1516. Despite the fact that there were several administrative types, Ottomans rule Lebanon until 1918. From 1918, major Western powers were effective in the Middle East, including the Lebanon. The Syria and Lebanon Republic's were founded after World War 1, and France was their mandator. France's influence was reduced after World War 2. The change in Turkey's Middle East politics occured in the 1950's. The U.S.'s 1958 intervention in Lebanon was a major event. The U.S. bases in Turkey were used at this intervention. Turkey's Middle East politics had to change in 1960's due to the Cyprus Crisis. There were important changes in Lebanon also, the Palestinian presence in Lebanon was increasing. On the other hand, the Leftist movement in Turkey was at rise. Young Turkish socialists joined Palestinian camps at that time. The politic atmosphere of Lebanon also effected the Armenian population there, several Armenian terrorist organizations formed which attacked the Turkish targets later. The civil war broke in Lebanon in 1975, after that Israel and Syria was heavily involved in it. The civil war in Lebanon also had several affects on Turkish economy. In 1980's, the PKK terrorist organisation, which is in the early forming period, used camps in Lebanon. The Lebanon Civil War, having all these aspects, had an important place in Turkish foreign policy at that time. Keywords: Lebanon Civil War, Turkish Foreign Policy, Armenian Terrorist Organisations, PKK, Middle East