With the breakdown in authority of the Lebanese government the militancy of radical faction increased. After, Guardians of the Cedars and Tiger militia forces took control of the Karantina district on 18 January 1976 by committing a massacre known as The Karantina Massacre. Syria put itself forwards as a "mediator" on the basis of historic claims. Syrian forces with As-Sa'iqa units were intervening on behalf of hard presses Christian militias by April. The influence of Syria led to the election of Elias Sarkis.