LEBANESE ARMED FORCES

The military of the Republic of Lebanon is officially known as the 'Lebanese Armed Forces' (LAF)' (Arabic: القوات المسلحة اللبنانية ''al-Quwa'at al-Musalha al-Lubna'ani.ya'') and consists of three branches:

★ The Lebanese Army

★ The Lebanese Navy

★ The Lebanese Air Force

Contents

General overview

Branches

Lebanese Ground Forces

Lebanese Navy

Lebanese Air Force

Lebanese Special Forces

Conscription

History

Lebanese Civil War

2006 Lebanon War

2007 North Lebanon conflict

References

External links

General overview

The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include; defending Lebanon and its citizens against all aggression, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, maintaining internal stability and security, engaging in social development activities and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.
The LAF consists of approximately 72,100 active personnel^[1] with the Ground Forces consisting of approximately 70,000 troops, the Air Force consisting of approximately 1,100 personnel and another 1,000 in the Navy.
All three branches are operated and coordinated by LAF Command, which is located in Yarzeh, just east of the capital, Beirut. There are a total of six military colleges and schools in the country. Some cadets may be sent to other countries to receive additional training.
The equipment inventory of the LAF is outdated due to a lack of funds, political bickering and until recently the presence of foreign forces. 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 nations. Approximately 85% of the LAF's equipment is US-made with the remaining being British, French, and Soviet-made.

Branches

Lebanese Ground Forces

The Lebanese Army is made up of:

★ 5 Regional Commands

★ 11 Mechanized brigades

★ 2 Artillery regiments

★ 1 Commando regiment

★ 5 Special Forces regiments

★ 1 Airborne regiment

★ 1 Navy Commando regiment

★ Republican Guard brigade

★ Medical Services

★ Support brigade

★ Logistics brigade

★ Military police

★ Independent work regiment

Lebanese Ground Forces Equipment

Standard Issue Infantry Weapon	M16, CAR-15, M4 Carbine, AKMS, AK-74
Infantry Weapons	M40 (rifle), RPG-7, M65 Rocketlauncher, M2 Browning machine gun, M40 recoilless rifle, Various Mortars
	T-54/T-55, M-48A1/M-48A5	310
Armoured Personnel Carriers	M-113A1/M-113A2, M578 Recovery vehicle, Panhard M-3, VAB, Cadillac Gage Commando, Chaimite	1660+
Armoured Fighting Vehicles	AMX-13, Alvis Saladin, Ferret, AML-90, Staghound	760
Towed Artillery	M101 howitzer(105 mm), M102 howitzer (105 mm), D-30 (122 mm), 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30)(122 mm), M-46 (130 mm), M114 155 mm howitzerA1 (155 mm), M-198(155 mm), Model 50 (155 mm)	147
Anti-Aircraft Weaponry	M42 Duster, ZU-23 (23 mm), SA-7A/SA-7B Grail	30+
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles	ENTAC, MILAN, BGM-71 TOW	70
Artillery Rocket Systems	BM-21, BM-11	30
Vehicles	Land Rover Defender 90, M151 MUTT jeep, CUCV, HMMWV 'Humvee', AIL M-325 Commandcar, M35A3	3500+

Lebanese Navy

The Lebanese Navy is responsible for protecting Lebanon's waters, protecting ports, and fighting illegal smuggling of goods.
The structure of the navy is centralised around the Navy Command, then it branches off into the quarter-general of the Navy, the Department of Naval Equipment Stores, the Naval School, Beirut Naval Base and the Jounieh Naval Base.

Lebanese Navy Ships

Combat Support Boats	British Made	27
Landing Crafts	EDIC-class (French Made)	2
Patrol Boats	TRACKER-Class, ATTACKER-Class	7
Craft Boats	36-meter patrol craft with blue-water capability	2

Lebanese Air Force

Lebanese Air Force Aircraft

Fighter Aircraft	Hawker Hunter FGA.70/FGA.70A (Up to four operational)	7+
Helicopters	Aérospatiale SA-342 Gazelle, Aérospatiale SA-318 Alouette II, Aérospatiale SA-319 Alouette III, Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma, UH-1H, UH-1N, Robinson R44	71+
Trainers	Scottish Aviation Bulldog, Fouga Magister CM-170	6
Transport	Gulfstream Turbo Commander 690A, de Havilland Dove	2

The Lebanese Air Force had a total lack of fixed wing fighter aircraft capability from the early 1990's. Until then, the fighter force used to consist of 12 Hawker Hunters purchased between 1952 and 1958 and based in Rayak AFB under the 2nd squadron, as well as 16 Mirage III EL and BL purchased from France in 1968 and based in Beirut under the 5th squadron. Until August 2007, these fighters were mothballed out of active service due to their outdated technology, a lack of combat value, a lack of funds, and mostly due to political decisions at the time. Moreover, the Mirage III were sold to Pakistan in 2000 as spare parts but were overhauled into active service by the Pakistani Air Force due to their excellent condition. It was first reported in August 20th 2007 that at least four Hawker Hunters were successfully put back in service and pilots were being trained for bombing missions due to the difficulties faced in Nahr El Bared where militants were holed in underground bunkers. The Hunters are yet to be used in the conflict but have been reported to be in full operational status.
The Hawker Hunters has not flown any combat sorties since September 17, 1983. This was during the period where the French and Americans were rebuilding the Lebanese army, and 3 F.Mk.70s were made airworthy, and started combat operations on September 15. Because the main airfield, Rayak Air Base had been shelled by Syrian forces, the Hunters had to operate from an airfield in Byblos. The last sortie was an attempt with French Super Etendards from the Clemenceau to attack Druze positions. One was shot down and the pilot barely managed to eject himself into the sea. The second Hunter was heavily damaged and made a forced landing at Byblos. The third did not return to the base but flew straight to Akrotiri, Cyprus, with the pilot eventually requesting political asylum.
It is worth noting that although the Air force has a fairly large number of helicopters for a small Air Force, only the UH-1H, Bell 212, Gazelle and R44 helicopters remain operational while all others remain in storage awaiting their overhaul into active duty. Thus the Lebanese Air Force consists of six squadrons, being the 2nd at Rayak AFB operating the Hawker Hunters, the 8th operating the Gazelles, the 10th and the 11th at Beirut AFB operating the UH-1, the 12th at Rayak AFB, operating some UH-1Hs on loan from Beirut AB, the 14th at Kleyate AFB, also operating the UH-1H on loan from Beirut AFB, and the 15th at Rayak AFB, operating the R44 Raven.
During the battle of Nahr el-Bared camp in North Lebanon, the Lebanese army, lacking fixed-wing aircraft, modified the UH-1H allowing it to carry 400lb. (250Kg) Mk.82 dumb bombs to strike the militant positions. Each Huey was equipped on each side with a special pads engineered by the Lebanese army, and attached to each was a dumb bomb. It is one of the very rare if not the only time where a helicopter is used to bomb in this fashion. The Lebanese army also made use of Gazelle helicopters equipped with Euromissile HOT missiles and machine guns pods.

Lebanese Special Forces

The Lebanese Special Forces are the elite of the Lebanese army, 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 consist of their own form of Special Forces or Commandos. These include:


★ 1 Navy Commando regiment

★ 1 Commando regiment

★ 1 Airborne regiment

★ 5 Special Forces regiments
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 specialised areas that the Lebanese Armed Forces are unable to provide, due to a lack of resources. Although 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 specialised form of warfare and its associated tactics. Such tactics include: sabotage, sniping, extraction and covert operations.

Conscription

Lebanon previously had mandatory military service of one year for men. On May 4, 2005, a new conscription system was adopted, making for a six-month service, and pledging to end conscription within two years. As of February 10, 2007 mandatory military service no longer exists in Lebanon thus making it a conscription-free all-volunteer force.[1]

History

Lebanese Civil War

Main articles: Lebanese Civil War

2006 Lebanon War

Main articles: 2006 Lebanon War

The Lebanese army in this conflict, had ignored fighting the Israeli Army despite that the bombing targets included several Lebanese military bases; though it had threatened it would retaliate if Israeli forces pushed too far northward into Lebanon. While providing aid to civilians, Lebanese troops helped to withhold order in city streets, directed refugees to safer areas, and assisted with overlooking damage done by Israeli attacks. On several occasions, Lebanese troops fired anti-air weapons at Israeli aircraft, but no damage was documented. Overall, 46 Lebanese soldiers were killed.
After the July 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 disarm Hezbollah by force. On February 7 2007, the Lebanese army fired at an Israeli Bulldozer that moved close to the border while not crossing it, Israel fired back, there was no casualty reports, the UNIFIL stationed in the south described the shootout as a "serious incident".

2007 North Lebanon conflict

Main articles: 2007 Lebanon conflict

The 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam, a Islamist militant organization, and the Lebanese Armed Forces on May 20, 2007 in Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli. It has been the most severe internal fighting since Lebanon's 1975–90 civil war. The conflict evolved mostly around the Siege of Nahr el-Bared. There is major use of the Lebanese artillery in the areas to eliminate snipers posted around the cities. The conflict finally ended on September 2, 2007 with the Lebanese Army taking control of the camp after more than three months of heavy fights and a death toll of 155 army men.[2]

References

1. Lebanese Armed Forces, CSIS (Page 12)

External links

★ Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)

★ Lebanon Military Guide from GlobalSecurity.org

★ [3]

★ Lebanese Army Pictures in Nahr al Bared

★ [4]