Lebanon hostage crisis 1991, Hezbollah had released the last hostage in return for Israel's release of imprisoned Shi'ites. Lebanon hostage crisis The Lebanon hostage crisis was the kidnapping in Lebanon of 104 foreign hostages between 1982 and 1992, when the Lebanese Civil War was at its height. The hostages were mostly Americans and Western Europeans, but 21 national origins were represented. At least eight hostages died in captivity; some were murdered, while others died from lack of adequate medical attention to illnesses. Those taking responsibility for the kidnapping used different names, but the testimony of former hostages indicates that almost all the kidnappings
PLO in Lebanon support of the Palestinian cause. The US was less positive in response to PLO and at one time favoured a policy of isolating the Palestinians, which clearly did not work. Charlie Wilson, the U.S. congressman responsible for raising funds in order to assist Afghan mujahideen to fight the Soviets, commented that he felt the Israeli forces were welcomed as a liberation army and that PLO's presence was worth even the tumult of the Israeli invasion. Whilst in Lebanon, PLO were able to mount several attacks on Israel from vantage points along the border. The time in Lebanon also afforded PLO