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Jane's World Armies profile: Lebanon
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| 16 November 2006 |
Assessment
The Lebanese Armed Forces have been handicapped by a lack of funds. The army does not have modern tanks, nor does it have any self-propelled artillery, only towed weapons. The army has the support of only a small number of UH-1H transport helicopters, but no attack helicopters, nor are there any advanced combat aircraft in service that could provide close air support to the ground forces. Furthermore, despite the LAF having a paratroops regiment and a commando regiment, lack of air mobility assets prevents the effective use of these forces.
Role and Deployment
The role of the Lebanese ground forces in protecting the borders and air space of Lebanon was thrown into sharp focus by the Israeli military offensive against Hizbullah launched in July 2006. Amid fears of an all-out invasion by Israel, Lebanon's President Lahoud had warned during July that the LAF would resist any invasion force, although it is believed that the much weaker, badly-equipped LAF would have been no match for the Israeli forces with their huge advantage in advanced weaponry
Response to Israeli operations, July 2006
As Israel's military campaign got under way, the Lebanese Army fired anti-aircraft guns at the Israeli aircraft as part of its role of protecting Lebanese air space. However, the LAF response was ineffectual, and failed to deter continual air operations by the Israeli Air Force. The LAF was instead limited to providing relief operations through the evacuation of refugees and providing medical assistance to Lebanese civilians affected by Israeli aerial attacks or artillery bombardment.
Some 15,000 LAF troops were deployed to the southern Lebanon border district following the 14 August ceasefire, in what was the first major deployment of the LAF along the border with Israel in more than 30 years.
Army organisation
The Lebanese Armed Forces have begun a process of reform and modernisation to turn the under-funded and under-equipped army into a more mobile, streamlined force capable of providing security along Lebanon's tense borders with Israel and Syria. This restructure was given added urgency after the July-August conflict between the Islamic Resistance - the armed wing of the Lebanese Shi'ite Party of God (Hizbullah) - and the Israel Defence Force.
Improved capabilities of the Lebanese police and internal security forces, a paramilitary police unit, will also free up the LAF for more military tasks, principally border surveillance and security.
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© 2006 Jane's Information Group
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