Lebanese Armed Forces
Lebanese Armed Forces | |
---|---|
القوات المسلحة اللبنانية ( Joseph Aoun
| |
Chief of Staff | Hassan Audi |
Personnel | |
Military age | 18–30 years of age for voluntary military service |
Conscription | No (abolished in 2007) |
Available for military service | 1,106,879 males, age 18–39, 1,895,723 females, age 18–39 |
Fit for military service | 934,828 males, age 18–39, 948,327 females, age 18–39 |
Active personnel | 95,000[1] |
Reserve personnel | 35,000 |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $1.92 billion (FY2020) |
Industry | |
Foreign suppliers | Brazil France Germany Italy Japan United States North Korea Russia China Iraq Iran India United Kingdom |
Annual exports | Weapons and equipment |
Related articles | |
History |
The War over Water Lebanese Civil War
Operation Dinnieh Global War on Terrorism
|
Ranks | Military ranks of Lebanon |
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF;
Emblem
The Lebanese Armed Forces emblem consists of a
General overview
The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and
The armed forces consist of 84,200 active personnel with the ground force consisting of approximately 80,000 troops, the air force 2,500 personnel and 1,700 in the naval force. The remaining personnel are commanders, advisors, engineers and members of the special forces. The LAF is an all-volunteer force. All three branches are operated and coordinated by the LAF Commander; a position customarily held by a Maronite Catholic Christian, from the ministry of defence which is located in
The equipment of the LAF is outdated due to lack of funds, political bickering and until the 2000s, the presence of foreign forces. The Lebanese government is working with its partners to improve the armed forces' capabilities. After the conclusion of the Lebanese Civil War, the LAF decided to repair as much of its equipment as it could, while being aided by modest donations from other states. The United States remains a key partner for Lebanon in this improvement process.[7] About 85% of the LAF's equipment is US-made, with the remaining being UK, French, and Soviet-made.[8]
History
During the period of
The beginnings of the modern Lebanese Army arose during 1916, when the French government established the "Legion of the Orient", which included Lebanese soldiers.[10] After a post World War I League of Nations mandate was established over Lebanon in April 1920, France formed the Army of the Levant, which was later reorganized to include the locally recruited Troupes Spéciales du Levant (Special Troops of the Levant). These indigenous troops were diverse units composed of Lebanese, Syrian, Circassian and Kurdish enlisted personnel; all commanded predominantly by French officers. By 1938, the Troupes Speciales numbered 10,000 with 306 officers, of whom only 88 were French.[11] In addition to the locally engaged Troupes Speciales; North African, Senegalese and French military units served in Syria and the Lebanon.
Later in 1926, the Lebanese First Sharp Shooters Unit was created out of the Special Troops of the Levant; it is considered to be a direct precursor to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).[10]
During
Post-independence
After Lebanon gained independence in 1943, the Lebanese government formed an official delegation in 1944 to negotiate with the French the terms related to handing over the LAF. After nearly three weeks of talks, the joint French-British Command decreed that responsibility for armed units under French control were to be handed over to the Independent Government of Lebanon.[10] These units were part of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant and totaled about 3,000 men.[12] On August 1, 1945, at 00:00 hours, the LAF was placed under full authority of the Lebanese National Government; this day is commemorated annually as Lebanese Army Day.[10]
After establishing authority over the LAF in 1945, the Lebanese government intentionally kept its armed forces small and weak due to the country's unique internal politics.
On 6 June 1948, the 3rd battalion of the Lebanese Army, backed by
Branches
Armed Forces Command
The LAF Command is headquartered at Yarzeh. The organizational structure of the LAF Command includes:
- The Commander-in-Chief
- The Chief of staff
- Deputy Chiefs of Staff
- Various Directorates
Lebanese Ground Forces
The Lebanese Ground Forces (
'Ground Forces') are by far the largest of the three branches of the military.The Lebanese Ground Forces consist of:
- 5 Regional Commands
- Beirut Region
- Bekaa Region
- Mount Lebanon Region
- North Region
- South Region
- 11 Brigades
- 5 Heavy (Mechanised) Brigades
- 6 Light Brigades
- 1st Artillery Regiment
- 2nd Artillery Regiment
- Signals Regiment
- Lebanese Commando Regiment
- Includes the Mountain Combat Company.
- Lebanese Airborne Regiment
- Counter-Sabotage Regiment (Moukafaha)
- 1st Intervention Force Regiment
- 2nd Intervention Force Regiment
- 3rd Intervention Force Regiment
- 4th Intervention Force Regiment
- 5th Intervention Force Regiment
- 6th Intervention Force Regiment
- Republican Guard Brigade
- Medical Brigade
- Support Brigade
- Logistics Brigade
- Military Police
- Army Band
- Independent Construction Regiment
- 1st Armored Regiment
- 1st Land Border Regiment
- 2nd Land Border Regiment
- 3rd Land Border Regiment
- 4th Land Border Regiment
The Fourth Brigade was previously active but was disbanded in 1984
Lebanese Air Force
The Lebanese Air Force (
The
The navy, which currently lacks a suitable amount of equipment, has approximately 50 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, it is trying to modernize itself and increase its size.
Lebanese Special Forces
Lebanese Armed Forces |
---|
Organization |
Personnel |
|
Topics of Lebanon |
The Lebanese Special Forces are the elite of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Those who enroll are subjected to rigorous training regimes and must be in peak physical and mental condition prior to their ascension to such a highly desired position. Each branch of the Armed Forces maintains its own form of Special Forces or Commandos. These include:
- Maghaweer)
- Lebanese Airborne Regiment - Moujawkal
- Marine Commandos
- Lebanese counter-terrorism and sabotage unit (Moukafaha)
- Panthers (part of the Internal Security Force, i.e. police)
To ensure the effectiveness of such an elite force, many Commandos are sent overseas to nations such as the US, UK and France to receive extra training in specialized areas that the Lebanese Armed Forces are unable to provide, due to a lack of resources. While training in Lebanon, each Commando is instructed in the art of urban and guerrilla warfare. So rigorous is their domestic training regime that each commando is subjected to a training timetable consisting of 20 hours per day for 3 months, which is divided into different stages. Each stage consists of a specialized form of warfare and its associated tactics. Such tactics include: sabotage, sniping, extraction and covert operations. The Lebanese Special Forces are also well known for killing and eating snakes with their bare hands at graduation ceremonies.[15][16]
In 2008, the Lebanese Armed Forces started establishing the Lebanese Special Operations Command in order to group the LAF's elite units. These special operations forces will include the Airborne Regiment, the Rangers Regiment, the Navy Commandos Regiment, and the Counter-Sabotage Regiment of the Military Intelligence. The initial size of the force will be less than two brigades, around 5,000 troops, but the plan is to enlarge it up to three brigades.[17]
Colleges and schools
The Lebanese Armed Forces has six official military colleges and schools that serve a wide variety of functions from officer training to overseeing national youth conscription programs. The recent emphasis on the First Flag Service Center is designed to help overcome the diverse nature of the population. The schools and colleges are:
- Fouad Shehab Command and Staff College
- High Center for Military Sport
- Lebanese Army Military Academy
- Skiing and Mountain Fighting School
- Teaching Institute
- Air Force Aviation School
- Naval Academy
- Lebanese Special Forces School
The Staff and Command College, Military Academy, and Mountain Skiing Fighting School are training centers for Lebanese soldiers designed to upgrade the quality of their skills while the High Center for Military Sport is designed to keep them in peak physical shape (it also organizes sports groups and teams for international competition as well). The Training Institute is designed to help soldiers specialize in certain aspects of the military, such as artillery and defense.[18]
Equipment
The Lebanese Army still uses equipment mostly received through donations or friendly prices. Its workhorse is the
Throughout its history, the Lebanese Army employed different weapons and equipment which, at the time, were considered state-of-the-art. Most of these arms have either been phased out of service or sold to other countries. Among the major equipment that is not currently active are the
Military ranks
The military ranks are as follows:
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lebanese Ground Forces[22]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
عماد Eimad |
لواء Liwa |
عميد Amid |
عقيد Aqid |
مقدم Muqaddam |
رائد Ra'id |
نقيب Naqib |
ملازم أول Mulazim awwal
|
ملازم Mulazim
|
Uniforms
Image | ||||||
Name | Operational Camouflage Pattern | UCP | MARPAT desert pattern | MARPAT Woodland | Lizard Camouflage | Black Camouflage |
Users | All units since 21 November 2017 | Marine Commandos
|
Airborne Regiment | Commando Regiment | Moukafaha | Marine Commandos
|
Training
Training of new conscripts takes place in the First Flag Service Center (FFSC). After a week of enlisting, they submit to two training courses, the common military training basic course and the specific course. All these courses are organized in details according to a program determining hours of training taking into consideration the conscript rank.[23] The first course consists of 240 hours equivalent to 9 weeks and the training program is composed of:
- Military rules and regulations
- Technical and tactical education
- Weapons
- Physical fitness
- Orientation and moral preparation
The second course consists of 84 hours equivalent to three weeks. The infantry course is composed of:
Combat history
1975–1990 Lebanese Civil War
As the civil war escalated, Lebanese militias grew stronger and soon surpassed the regular army. This rapidly undermined the authority of the central government. The government's ability to maintain order was also handicapped by the nature of the Lebanese Army. One of the smallest in the
1991 Taif Agreement
On 4 July 1991, following the failure of disarmament negotiations, as required by the Taif Agreement, the Lebanese Army attacked Palestinian positions in Southern Lebanon. The offensive, involving 10,000 troops against an estimated 5,000 militia, lasted 3 days and ended with the Army taking all the Palestinian positions around Sidon. In the agreement that followed all heavy weapons were surrendered and infantry weapons only allowed in the two refugee camps, Ain al-Hilweh and Mieh Mieh. 73 people were killed in the fighting, and 200 wounded, mostly Palestinian.[24][25]
1999–2000 Dinnieh fighting
During December 1999–January 2000 an Islamic group launched a failed uprising against the Lebanese authorities in the
2006 Lebanon War
In the 2006 Lebanon War the LAF did not engage in a direct conflict with the Israeli Army, despite its threat of retaliation if the IDF pushed too far northward into Lebanon. However, Israel did bomb several Lebanese military bases.[27][28][29] While providing aid to civilians, Lebanese troops helped to uphold order in city streets, directed refugees to safer areas, and assisted with overlooking damage done by Israeli attacks.[27] On several occasions, Lebanese troops fired anti-air weapons at Israeli aircraft,[30] but no damage was documented. Overall, 49 Lebanese soldiers were killed.[31]
After the 2006 Lebanon War the LAF deployed south of the Litani River for the first time since 1968 to enforce Security Council Resolution 1701. The LAF says it will not, and cannot, disarm Hezbollah by force. On August 3, 2010, the Lebanese army fired at Israeli soldiers whose crane lifted a soldier across the border to remove a tree off the fence; Israeli troops returned fire. 3 LAF soldiers, one Israeli officer and 1 Lebanese journalist were killed in the incident (after Israeli artillery & aircraft bombing). According to UN reports, the border fence in the area is actually inside Israel's international border.[32] The UNIFIL force stationed in the south described the shootout as a "serious incident".
2007 North Lebanon conflict
The 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between
2008 Clashes in Lebanon
During the week-long clashes that occurred at the beginning of May 2008 in Beirut and other regions of the country, the army was unable to prevent rival Lebanese groups from fighting each other. This was because the army, along with the government, had thought it would have been better if rival groups would eventually end the violence and sort out the dispute between them alone, other than involving the national army which may have led to great divisions between the soldiers, just like in the civil war. It would have also caused an outcry from the soldiers who could have died, leading to even greater divisions and blame on the political forces.[34] However, whenever ceasefire was brought into action in a specific area or district in Beirut or elsewhere in the country, the LAF would straight away enforce peace. On May 13, the national army announced that if the clashes would not end as soon as possible, it would have to intervene and use force if necessary to stop them.[35]
2011–2017 Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon
Since the outbreak of conflict in Syria, the Lebanese Army has been deployed to prevent clashes from taking place in the city of
On June 23, 2013, intense clashes in Sidon took place between followers of Salafist Sunni preacher Ahmad Al-Assir and Lebanese troops. Following these clashes, the Lebanese Army was sent in to capture Sheikh Assir's headquarters at Abra and apprehend him. Lebanese Army units fought against pro-Assir militants for two days in a battle that led to the deaths of at least 16 Lebanese soldiers, and the wounding of at least 50 men. Although the LAF managed to secure his complex, Assir was able to escape and was only captured on August 16, 2015, while trying to flee the country on a false passport.[37][38]
On August 2, 2014, following the arrest of an
On July 21, 2017, Hezbollah, the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Army launched a military operation against ISIS and Tahrir al-Sham positions on the Lebanon–Syria border. The Lebanese army committed the 5th Infantry Brigade and 7th Infantry Brigade to the battle, and heavily shelled ISIS and HTS positions. By August 28, most of the around 2,100 militants surrendered to Hezbollah and the Syrian Army.[40]
See also
- Internal Security Forces
- General Security Directorate (Lebanon)
- Rangers of the Lebanese Army Sports Event
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Lebanon)
- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
- Hezbollah armed strength
References
- ^ [IISS (2023). The Military Balance 2023. Routledge. p. 338].
- ^ United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Peacekeeping in between the Blue Line
- ^ الجيش اللبناني. "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني | شرف، تضحية، وفاء". Lebarmy.gov.lb (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ^ "LAF Mission". Lebanese Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ "Joseph Aoun". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني.
- ^ "Armed forces growth (most recent) by country". NationMaster.com. 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ^ "US Military Assistance to Lebanon: Equipping LAF Not Transforming It". الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني.
- ^ "LAF Equipment". Lebanese Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ISBN 978-1-4446-7401-9. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "LAF History". Lebanese Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ISBN 9780500250754.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Lebanese Ground Forces". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- S2CID 154088601.
- Institute of Palestine Studies, p.471.
- ^ "404 - File or directory not found". Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني". Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ^ Kahwaji, Riad (January 21, 2008). "Special Operations Command, More Military Aid for Beirut". Defense News.[dead link]
- ^ "Military Colleges & Schools". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ^ "M60 Main Battle Tanks From U.S. to Lebanese Army". Nahar Net. November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (December 1, 2008). "U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ Daragahi, Borzou; Rafei, Raed (December 18, 2008). "Russia to donate 10 fighter jets to Lebanon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
- ^ "الرتب العسكرية". lebarmy.gov.lb (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Training in the FFSC". Lebanese Army website. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
- ^ Middle East International No 404, 12 July 1991, Publishers Lord Mayhew, Dennis Walters MP; p.3 Jim Muir, pp.4,5 Godfrey Jansen, Lamis Andoni
- ^ Journal of Palestine Studies 81 Volume XXI, Number 1, Autumn 1991, University of California Press. pp.193,194 Chronology quoting Los Angeles Times 7/6, Mideast Mirror (MEM), London 7/5
- ^ Gambill, Gary C.; Endrawos, Bassam (September 2001). "Bin Laden's Network in Lebanon". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22.
- ^ a b الجيش اللبناني. "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني | شرف، تضحية، وفاء". Lebarmy.gov.lb (in Arabic). Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ^ "Israel bombs Lebanese army barracks". News.com.au. July 18, 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ "IAF strikes Lebanese Air Force base". The Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
- ^ "Lebanese army stops Israeli helicopters landing". Reuters. 2006-07-30. Archived from the original on 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ شهداء حرب تموز (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ^ "BBC News - Israel-Lebanon border clash kills five people". BBC News. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Lebanon army takes control of camp after battle". Reuters. September 2, 2007. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gunbattles break out in Beirut". CNN. May 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
- ^ "Lebanese army deploys troops around the country to impose law and order by force". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ^ their operations against the Lebanese army and Hezbollah's fighters
- ^ "Lebanon army seizes radical sunni clerics's HQ". 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Lebanon arrests wanted militant cleric Ahmad al-Assir". BBC News. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ "Kahwagi: Army will do utmost to free hostages". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ^ "Islamic State prepares to evacuate Syria-Lebanon border zone". Reuters. 28 August 2017.
External links
- Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Official Website
- Lebanon Military Guide from GlobalSecurity.org
- CIA - The World Factbook - Lebanon
- Army Recognition Index of Lebanese Military Equipment
- Global Fire Power - Lebanon Military Strength
- Lebanon army trying to rearm and modernize itself
- Lebanese Military Wish List 2008/2009 - New York Times
- Lebanese army Twitter account