The organization was , and is , utilized by Syria as a proxy force in the Palestinian movement . While this has prevented as-Sa ' iqa from gaining widespread popularity among Palestinians , it became an important force in the Palestinian camps in Syria , as well as in Lebanon . During the Lebanese Civil War , Syria built the movement into one of the most important Palestinian fighting units , but also forced it to join in Syrian offensives against the PLO when relations between al-Assad and Arafat soured . This led to as-Sa ' iqa 's expulsion from the PLO in 1976 , but it was readmitted in December the same year , after the situation had cooled down , and after Syria named this as a condition for further support for the PLO . The attacks on the PLO led to large-scale defections of Syrian-based Palestinians from the movement . As Saiqa was as well responsible of the Damour massacre in 1976 and many other barbaric mass murders
Damour massacre
Damour massacre
As-Sa'iqa