US, France, Arab Allies Rush Help To Floundering Lebanese Armed Forces

[TR_123456]

While U.S. increases FMF to $120-million, France prepares international conference to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces whose budget was wiped out by collapse of country’s economy.​

The Lebanese Navy received in 2012 the first of class 44-meter Lebanese Coastal Security Craft (LCSC-42) under the U.S. military aid program, built by Riverhawk in Tampa, Florida. (Courtesy of Lebanese Navy)

DUBAI: Ravaged by 110 percent inflation, the Lebanese military has run out of money to feed its troops and troops salaries have plunged in value to the point where they are no longer enough to cover the cost of living.


The dire conditions prompted LAF commander Gen. Joseph Aoun to ask global powers, friends and allies for help. He spoke with senior U.S. military and government officials in virtual meetings early last May. He later flew to Paris to meet with senior defense officials and President Manuel Macron in a rare move that reflects the severity of the situation in Lebanon.


In response to these overtures, the United States and its Western and Arab allies are scrambling to boost aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). How bad are things? A captain in the LAF’s monthly salary has shrunk from about $2,340 at end of 2019 to $270 at end of May 2021, leaving him and his colleagues unable to pay for food, housing and other essentials.

There’s little prospect of this getting fixed any time soon since Lebanese political parties are paralyzed and can’t form a new government, further undermining the country’s financial and economic systems.


“The collapse of the central government, which would certainly impact the LAF, would leave the borders wide open for refugees and terrorists to move in and out towards Europe,” said Khalil Helou, a retired Lebanese brigadier general and defense analyst. “So, now, countries seeking to assist the LAF are not only focusing on supplying arms and equipment, but also food and medical supplies to keep the military establishment functional.”



Military transporters carrying food and medical supplies to the 84,000-strong LAF have been making frequent flights to Beirut from Arab and Western capitals, including the UAE, Egypt, Oman, France, the US and Jordan.


“For the US, Lebanon is a unique case where a national military has improved almost at an inverse rate to the central government in a fragile state,” said Aram Nerguizian, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

US, France, Arab Allies Rush Help To Floundering Lebanese Armed Forces - Breaking Defense

While U.S. increases FMF to $120-million, France prepares international conference to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces whose budget was wiped out by collapse of country’s economy.

breakingdefense.com

 

[kimov]

Will an American and French paid army help Lebanon against Israel?
What is the purpose to have an army if you need your enemies to pay for it?

 

[TR_123456]

Will an American and French paid army help Lebanon against Israel?
What is the purpose to have an army if you need your enemies to pay for it?

Its not against Israel,its against Hezbollah and Iran.
Hezbollah is more powerful then the Lebanese Armed Forces,they want to create some counter weight,even things out.

 

[kimov]

Its not against Israel,its against Hezbollah and Iran.
Hezbollah is more powerful then the Lebanese Armed Forces,they want to create some counter weight,even things out.

I understand the goal of USA/France/Israel/... is to use the army against Hezbollah in order to create internal tensions. That is my rhetorical question, why have an army you cant afford and those only goal is to help your only enemy create internal problems.

A unified armed structure would be better for Lebanon, be it under Hezbollah or the army. That way, they can concentrate on common economical and strategic goals instead of wasting decades on internal strides which weakens the whole society to a point of collapse. Even a bad government is better than a government controlled by your only external enemy whose goal is to crate constant problems.

Lebanon used to be the pearl of the the ME countries but now is on the constant threat of collapse due to internal tensions created by external enemies. They need to get over this.

 

[Saithan]

It is the construction or governance form that is at fault here. Iran's influence is breaking it apart. Syria had some kind of stabilizing effect but ever since the civil war Lebanon has been thrown into absolute chaos.

@Philip the Arab how is Jordan doing in all this as I recall it Jordan was energy dependent on its neighbours or has that been fixed ?

 

[CEZAYIRLI]

Will an American and French paid army help Lebanon against Israel?
What is the purpose to have an army if you need your enemies to pay fo

US, France and Arab vultures rush over Lebanon pray

 

[CEZAYIRLI]

It is the construction or governance form that is at fault here. Iran's influence is breaking it apart. Syria had some kind of stabilizing effect but ever since the civil war Lebanon has been thrown into absolute chaos.

@Philip the Arab how is Jordan doing in all this as I recall it Jordan was energy dependent on its neighbours or has that been fixed ?

Jordan, another powerless pray in the claws of the UAE and KSA.

 

[Titanium100]

Jordan, another powerless pray in the claws of the UAE and KSA.

It is like that axis has done a number on you.. Jeez relax.. Bumping threads that are years old