Operation Litani was a six-day military campaign carried out by Israel in 1978. The operation was meant as retaliatory action to a series of terror attacks on Israeli targets, emanating form Lebanon.
The Coastal Road massacre
The catalyst for the operation is believed to be a Palestinian terror attack which took place on Saturday, March 11, 1978: The day saw an 11-man terror cell infiltrate Israel via the sea, coming up on the shores of Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael. The cell proceeded take control of a bus traveling on Highway 1, connecting Tel Aviv and Haifa, and hold its passengers hostage.
The terrorists made the bus driver turn towards Tel Aviv, while they began handcuffing all the male passengers, shooting and hurling grenades at passing cars. Four drivers were killed. While en route to Tel Aviv, the hijackers were able to seize a second bus, forcing its passengers to board their bus.
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