During the spring of 2000, Hezbollah operations stepped up considerably, with persistent harassment of Israeli military outposts in occupied Lebanese territory.

As preparation for the major withdrawal plan, Israeli forces began abandoning several forward positions within the security zone of South Lebanon.

In April 2000, a Hezbollah force approached the Khiam detention center in an attempt to make a surprise attack on the SLA facility.

In May 2000, upon increasing disintegration among the SLA ranks, Hezbollah fighters reinforced by local Shia residents and civilians of Khiam[1] attacked the facility and following a short battle took over the prison.

The announcement further escalated the disintegration and with the completion of Israeli withdrawal, some 6,000 former SLA soldiers and commanders with their families fled to Israel, abandoning their weaponry and homes.