Lebanon Military Forces

Strategic Position

Lebanon occupies a volatile geopolitical position between Israel to the south and Syria to the north and east. Following the conclusion of a major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in late 2024, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have assumed a central role in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and reasserting state sovereignty over southern Lebanon. The political landscape shifted in January 2025 with the election of former LAF Commander Joseph Aoun as President and the subsequent appointment of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister. These developments, alongside the collapse of the Assad administration in Syria in December 2024, have significantly altered Lebanon's security environment, reducing the traditional influence of regional non-state actors and their external sponsors.

Lebanon does not maintain formal memberships in major military alliances such as NATO. Instead, its defense posture relies on bilateral security assistance and international peacekeeping frameworks. The United States remains the primary benefactor, providing substantial Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and material aid. France and the United Kingdom also provide specialized training and equipment, particularly for border security and mountain warfare. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) operates in the south, though its mandate is currently slated for conclusion in December 2026, placing increasing pressure on the LAF to achieve self-sufficiency in border control and maritime security.

The primary strategic priority is the establishment of a state monopoly on the use of force. Under a five-phase roadmap approved in late 2025, the government has tasked the military with disarming non-state groups, including Hezbollah and various Palestinian factions within refugee camps. This internal security focus is balanced against the necessity of maintaining a credible deterrent against Israeli incursions, which have continued despite the 2024 ceasefire.

Military Forces

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) comprise approximately 80,000 active-duty personnel and 15,000 reserves. The force is structured into three primary branches: the Ground Forces (Army), the Air Force, and the Navy, with the Ground Forces acting as the dominant component. Following the ascension of Joseph Aoun to the presidency in 2025, General Rodolphe Haykal assumed command of the military.

Ground Forces

The Army is organized into territorial brigades, intervention regiments, and specialized units. Its primary inventory consists of Western and Soviet-era platforms.

• Armor: Operates M60A3 and T-54/55 main battle tanks.

• Mechanized Infantry: Maintains a large fleet of M113 armored personnel carriers and VAB wheeled armored vehicles.

• Artillery: Utilizes M109 self-propelled howitzers and M198 towed howitzers.

• Specialized Units: Elite capabilities reside in the Commando Regiment (Maghaweer), the Rangers (Moukafaha), and the Airborne Regiment. These units are frequently deployed for counter-terrorism and high-stakes disarmament operations.

Air Force

The Lebanese Air Force is configured for light attack, reconnaissance, and transport rather than air superiority.

• Fixed-Wing: Operates A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft and AC-208 Combat Caravan platforms for precision strikes and surveillance.

• Rotary-Wing: The fleet centers on UH-1H Huey II and SA342 Gazelle helicopters, used for transport and close air support.

Navy

The Navy is a coastal defense force tasked with patrolling Lebanon's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and preventing maritime smuggling. It operates a fleet of coastal patrol craft and landing craft, largely donated by the United States and European partners.

Strategic Trends

The Lebanese military is currently navigating a transition from a domestic stabilization force to a primary border defense organization. The "five-phase roadmap" initiated in late 2025 serves as the operational blueprint for this shift, prioritizing the dismantling of unauthorized military infrastructure south of the Litani River. The first phase of this deployment was completed in early 2026, asserting state control over former conflict zones.

Defense spending remains constrained by Lebanon's ongoing economic recovery. The 2026 budget reflects a continued reliance on international financial support to meet operational costs and personnel salaries. In 2025, the United States approved multiple aid packages, including $95 million in FMF and $14.2 million through the Presidential Drawdown Authority specifically for disarmament activities.

Procurement priorities are centered on "Livelihood Support" for personnel, maintenance of existing platforms, and the acquisition of demolition and detection equipment for clearing unexploded ordnance and tunnels. Future force structure shifts will likely emphasize expanded surveillance capabilities along the Syrian border and the reinforcement of naval assets to protect offshore energy interests, assuming the 2026 UNIFIL withdrawal proceeds as planned.