[1] On April 26, 1988, a Hezbollah infiltration attempt at Har Dov ended in a battle during which an Israeli officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shmuel Adiv, a battalion commander in the Givati Brigade, was killed along with the entire Hezbollah cell.

The first, Operation Law, would see a Paratroopers Brigade unit commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Amos Ben-Haim, raid Lebanese villages in the vicinity as a distraction, though it was also hoped that enemy fighters could be captured and weapons seized.

The operation would be carried out by Battalion 202, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Gershon, supported by additional paratrooper and infantry units commanded by Major Roni Alsheikh, Captain Gal Hirsch, Major Gadi Shamni, and Captain Matti Horowitz.

[citation needed] On May 2, Operation Law began when the 890th Paratroop Battalion, led by Benny Gantz, and 50th Paratroop Battalion unit, began search and destroy operations against guerrilla infrastructure in South Lebanon, and scattered propaganda leaflets.

[citation needed] Israeli sources said the goal was to "restore the army's image" and deter the Arab enemies, while Western military sources said it was "designed for home consumption", Before the fighting, Majdoun was a village of 50 houses.