The unilateral withdrawal of Israeli military forces from southern Lebanon, which took place on 24-25 May 2000. In 1985, following the 1982 Lebanon War, Israeli forces withdrew from most Lebanese territory under their control, establishing the South Lebanon Security Zone with the goal of protecting northern Israel from Palestinian and Lebanese militant attacks. Over the next 15 years, this area was controlled by Israel and allied Lebanese militias, engaged in sustained low-intensity fighting against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Upon his election as Prime Minister of Israel in July 1999, Ehud Barak promised that Israel would withdraw from Lebanon completely by July 2000, but the move was completed ahead of schedule. The most important Israeli-affiliated Lebanese militia, the South Lebanon Army, subsequently collapsed in the face of Hezbollah attacks, with some of its members fleeing to Israel. On 16 June 2000, the UN Security Council confirmed that Israel had completed its withdrawal as required by Resolution 425 of 1978.