August 1982. French paratroopers take defense positions around the Beirut harbor. They are the first of the multinational forces to arrive in the city. During the Lebanon War of 1982, Yasser Arafat and PLO forces were trapped in Beirut as Israeli Defense Forces encircled and bombed the city for 70 days. After Lebanese leaders petitioned the PLO to leave the city, Arafat negotiated a Palestinian evacuation of Beirut through talks with U.S Ambassador Philip Habib. On August 21, multinational forces arrived in Beirut to provide protection for the exodus, which was completed by September 1.