Middle East 509
captured. The airman was released to Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Democratic presidential
candidate, on January 3, 1984, after he personally pled to the Syrian president for the
airman’s release. By February 6 the Syrian-backed militias had gained control of West
Beirut, and on February 7, President Reagan announced a plan to move American
troops offshore. Reagan authorized continuing air and naval strikes against antigov-
ernment forces in Lebanon through March, but by April 1984 the United States pulled
out of Lebanon.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 3, 1983.
MID#4190
Started in June 1996. See the narrative in the 640 Turkey/652 Syria dyad dispute list.
MID#4518
Dispute Number: 4518
Date(s): March 2004 to April 16, 2004
Participants: 2 United States of America/652 Syria
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: There was a brief border clash between Syrian forces and American forces
in Iraq in March 2004. The United States sent additional troops to the Syrian border
in April as a response.
MID#4527
Started in April 2005. See the narrative in the 645 Iraq/652 Syria dyad dispute list.
MID#4540
Dispute Number: 4540
Date(s): October 26, 2008
Participants: 2 United States of America/652 Syria
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: American helicopters launched an attack inside Syria that targeted insur-
gents. Syria protested and said that civilians were killed.
2 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/666 ISRAEL
MID#200
Started in September 1955. See the narrative in the 651 Egypt/666 Israel dyad dispute list.