after Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat had approached the Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, to mend relations damaged by Sadat's peacemaking attempts with Israel. Still, the Egyptian units never proved as important as the fully deployed Syrian PLA. Many PLA soldiers in Egypt and Jordan later became the core of the Palestinian Authority's (PNA) National Guard, after the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords, when they were allowed to enter the Palestinian Territories to take up positions in the PNA security services. Syrian Civil War The Syrian PLA remains active, closely coordinated with as-Sa'iqa, although the importance of both had diminished over the years. The PLA has been rebuilt and Palestinians in Syria are still drafted to perform their military service in its ranks. Though completely staffed by Palestinians, it remains outside of the PLO's control, and is in effect integrated into the Syrian Army. Nevertheless, it poses as an independent entity, and occasionally organizes pro-government rallies celebrating Syrian commitment to the Palestinian cause. With the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the PLA sided with the government and began to fight against the Syrian opposition. Led by Major General Muhammad Tariq al-Khadra, the PLA has taken part in campaigns in the Rif Dimashq, Daraa, and Quneitra Governorates. In early 2015, a number of PLA fighters led by Major Khaldoun Al Nader were allegedly executed for refusing to fight against rebels in Daraa. Around 228 PLA fighters have been killed in action by September 2017; one of the highest ranking fatalities being a brigadier general, Anwar al-Saqa. Operations Six-Day War War of Attrition Battle of Karameh Black September Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War Syrian Civil War Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign Siege of Darayya and Muadamiyat Battle of Yarmouk Camp (2015) Battle of Zabadani (2015) Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015) Rif Dimashq offensive (April–May 2016) Rif Dimashq offensive (June–August 2016) Rif Dimashq offensive (June–October 2016) Qaboun offensive (2017) Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018) Southern Damascus offensive (April–May 2018) Daraa Governorate campaign Second Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin 2018 Southern Syria offensive See also Arab–Israeli conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict Military of Palestine List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War Similar Organizations: Arab Liberation Army Army of the Holy War References Works cited Further reading Yezid Sayigh, 'Escalation or Containment? Egypt and the Palestine Liberation Army, 1964–67,' International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 30, Issue 1, 1998, pp97–116. Hillel Frisch, The Palestinian Military: