Sixth of February Movement
Encyclopedia
The Sixth of February Movement or ‘6th FM’ was a small predominantly Sunni Nasserist faction active in Lebanon
from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. Based at West Beirut and estimated at about 100-150 fighters armed and trained by the PLO, the ‘6th FM’ joined the ranks of the Lebanese National Movement
(LNM) during the 1975-76 Civil War, fighting alongside other Nasserist-oriented factions. However, the political collapse of the LNM in the wake of the June 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon
and the subsequent departure of the PLO from Beirut
meant that the smaller Nasserist militias (‘6th FM’ included) had to fend for themselves. Their unwavering support for the PLO resulted in the adoption of a hostile stance regarding Syria
’s military presence in Lebanon
and when the War of the Camps
broke out in May 1985, the ‘6th FM’ allied with the al-Mourabitoun
and Palestinian refugee camp militias against a Syrian-backed coalition of Druze
, Shia Muslim and other pro-Syrian armed factions. Eventually, the ‘6th FM’ bore the brunt of this all-out offensive until being finally suppressed by the Shia Amal Movement
in June 1986. This faction is no longer active.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. Based at West Beirut and estimated at about 100-150 fighters armed and trained by the PLO, the ‘6th FM’ joined the ranks of the Lebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Movement
The Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
(LNM) during the 1975-76 Civil War, fighting alongside other Nasserist-oriented factions. However, the political collapse of the LNM in the wake of the June 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Israeli invasion of Lebanon
The Israeli invasion of Lebanon could refer to:*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1978 South Lebanon conflict;*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1982 Lebanon War;*The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the 1993 Lebanon War;...
and the subsequent departure of the PLO from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
meant that the smaller Nasserist militias (‘6th FM’ included) had to fend for themselves. Their unwavering support for the PLO resulted in the adoption of a hostile stance regarding Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
’s military presence in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and when the War of the Camps
War of the camps
The War of the Camps was a subconflict within the 1984–89 phase of the Lebanese Civil War, in which Palestinian refugee camps were besieged by the Shi'ite Amal militia....
broke out in May 1985, the ‘6th FM’ allied with the al-Mourabitoun
Al-Mourabitoun
The Independent Nasserite Movement or al-Murabitoun , also termed variously Mouvement des Nasséristes Indépendants ' in French, Independent Nasserite Organization , or Movement of Independent Nasserists, is a Nasserist political party in Lebanon.-Political...
and Palestinian refugee camp militias against a Syrian-backed coalition of Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
, Shia Muslim and other pro-Syrian armed factions. Eventually, the ‘6th FM’ bore the brunt of this all-out offensive until being finally suppressed by the Shia Amal Movement
Amal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
in June 1986. This faction is no longer active.
See also
- al-MourabitounAl-MourabitounThe Independent Nasserite Movement or al-Murabitoun , also termed variously Mouvement des Nasséristes Indépendants ' in French, Independent Nasserite Organization , or Movement of Independent Nasserists, is a Nasserist political party in Lebanon.-Political...
- Lebanese National MovementLebanese National MovementThe Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
- Lebanese Civil WarLebanese Civil WarThe Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
- War of the CampsWar of the campsThe War of the Camps was a subconflict within the 1984–89 phase of the Lebanese Civil War, in which Palestinian refugee camps were besieged by the Shi'ite Amal militia....