 On August 31, 1983 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unilaterally withdrew from the Chouf District located southeast of Beirut, thus removing the buffer between the Druze PLA and the Christian Maronite Lebanese Forces (LF) militias and triggered another round of brutal fighting.By September, the Druze PSP/PLA had defeated the LF in a series of engagements and gained control over most of the Chouf.However, in later stages of the battle, the Lebanese Army loyal to President Amin Gemayel's government relieved the LF and took over the positions that they had held onto to, thwarting the Lebanese Muslim militias' drive towards the presidential palace in the Baabda District, and into the Christian-controlled urban districts of East Beirut.