Lebanon's army needs support to fulfill ceasefire commitments

In the wake of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect on November 27, 2024, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) mobilized to southern Lebanon as part of a strategic agreement. This accord entails deploying 10,000 soldiers alongside the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as the Israeli forces withdraw and Hezbollah evacuates the area. The LAF's immediate task was to establish control over key roads and prevent civilian access to regions that still housed Israeli troops, marking the onset of significant military intervention in maintaining regional stability. The LAF was tasked with deploying an initial 1,500 soldiers to the border region, in addition to reinforcing the existing contingent of approximately 4,000. This was part of a longer-term strategy where total troop reinforcement would eventually reach 6,000. However, this ambitious deployment poses significant challenges for an army that is already facing a severe lack of resources and funding. To successfully implement this operational plan, the LAF needs substantial financial backing, training, and new equipment. To address this requirement, discussions are ongoing among Lebanon's Western allies, which include the United States and France. These discussions are centered around how best to support the LAF via the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon, which also includes representatives from other European partner armies such as Italy, which chairs the committee. The focus is on bolstering the LAF's offensive and defensive capabilities, along with enhancing its capabilities in demining, decontamination, and public infrastructure efforts. The goal is to enable the LAF to operate autonomously in dismantling unauthorized military sites and confiscating illegal arms, particularly those associated with Hezbollah. Implementing this extensive plan will demand hundreds of millions of euros, covering costs from troop salaries to ammunition and logistical needs like food and fuel supply. Currently, Western support mainly comprises donations and technical assistance aimed at helping the LAF navigate its ongoing economic crisis. The path to achieving this ambitious military restructuring and operational enhancement remains fraught with financial and logistical hurdles, leaving uncertainty about how effectively Lebanon can assert military governance in the wake of the ceasefire.