Introduction
How is the Military in Lebanon and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces
Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Forces Directorate (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), Directorate for General Security (DGS; border control, some domestic security duties); Parliamentary Police Force (2024).
Ministry of Interior: Internal Security Forces Directorate (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), Directorate for General Security (DGS; border control, some domestic security duties); Parliamentary Police Force (2024).
In Lebanon, the primary responsibilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are defense against external attack, border security, protecting the country’s territorial waters, and assisting with internal security and development projects
the LAF’s domestic security responsibilities include countering narcotics trafficking and smuggling, managing protests, conducting search and rescue, and intervening to prevent violence between rival political factions; in recent years, the military has faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties have undercut its ability to train and fully pay and supply personnel, which has sparked domestic and international fears that the armed forces might disintegrate; the UN, as well as individual countries such as France and the US have provided financial assistance
the UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the southern part of the country since 1978; it has approximately 9,500 military personnel assigned and includes a maritime task force (2024)
the LAF’s domestic security responsibilities include countering narcotics trafficking and smuggling, managing protests, conducting search and rescue, and intervening to prevent violence between rival political factions; in recent years, the military has faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties have undercut its ability to train and fully pay and supply personnel, which has sparked domestic and international fears that the armed forces might disintegrate; the UN, as well as individual countries such as France and the US have provided financial assistance
the UN Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the southern part of the country since 1978; it has approximately 9,500 military personnel assigned and includes a maritime task force (2024)
Security and military information of Lebanon
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 70-75,000 active troops (2024) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the LAF inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older equipment from a diverse array of countries, including the US; the country's economic crisis has limited military procurement efforts (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 17-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024). note: women were allowed to volunteer for military service in the 1980s; as of 2023, they comprised about 5% of the active duty military |
| Military deployments | . |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 3% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2019 | 4.7% of GDP (2019 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2018 | 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2017 | 4.6% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Terrorism
In Lebanon, the different Terrorist group(s) inlcude: Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Nusrah Front (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham); Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command
All Important Facts about Lebanon
Want to know more about Lebanon? Check all different factbooks for Lebanon below.
