Reports state that fighting started on December 24, 1983 between Army units and the Progressive Socialist Party (Druze) allied with the Amal militias, intensified on February 1, 1984, with the Amal seizing Army positions in the Chiyah district, (Feb. 2) followed by fierce fighting (Feb. 3) in the Galerie Semann area. Combined attacks by Druze and Amal forces were reported at the same time on Army positions to the south and east of the city.

Reports state that while Beirut remained calm following the Muslim victories, fighting broke out to the south and east of the city on 13 February. Druze forces drove out the Army from Abey, Kfar Matta, Ein Ksour, Benay; and on February 14 - 15 a combined Druze - Amal offensive drove Army units out of the south-eastern approaches of Beirut. On February 16 Druze units reportedly captured Phalangist positions in Damour. A large number of Phalangist fighters and regular Army soldiers, were "reported to be among the several thousand refugees ...crossing... into the Israeli controlled zone".

On February 6 1984, the Lebanese Army was reported to have been driven out of West Beirut, by joint Amal - Druze forces, and much of the city was subsequently brought under Amal control. Further to this, it is also reported that the Army's defeat was "facilitated by the refusal of many Shia Moslem soldiers to fight against their co-religionists; others even joined with Amal in attacking loyalist units".

In March 1984 it is reported that the Mourabitoun (a Sunni Moslem group) fighters were driven out of positions along the Green Line by Druze units in what was described as the "law and order operation" by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. Further clashes between these two groups were reported to have taken place in West Beirut in July 1984. These were purportedly halted by the predominantly Muslim Sixth Brigade of the Lebanese Army.