- 05
- Sep.
- 2025
As Lebanon slowly recovers from the war between Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese Army faces a critical mission: extending state sovereignty across the entire country by establishing a monopoly on arms.
This requires disarming the Iran-backed militia, a historic and high-risk operation that could redefine both the army’s role and the country’s balance of power.
What is the army’s size, what equipment does it possess, what are its capabilities and what challenges must it overcome?
A Long-Marginalized Force
With around 80,000 active soldiers, the Lebanese Army is the nation’s primary security force. Yet, for decades, its role was largely confined to maintaining internal order. In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah has asserted military and political dominance, sidelining the army despite the symbolic presence of its troops and those of UNIFIL.
The recent conflict with Israel has severely weakened Hezbollah and accelerated a total disarmament process under the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, accepted by the Shia leadership.
For the first time, the government is counting on the army, supported by international partners, to oversee the transition to a state where weapons are concentrated solely in the hands of legal forces.
This evolution presents a decisive test: Can the army emerge as the guarantor of national sovereignty and the sole holder of arms? Here, military intelligence will play a key role, according to military analysis expert Riad Kahwaji.
Capabilities and Limits
Despite its importance, the army’s operational capabilities remain limited. Its armored units include roughly 200 tanks, including M60, M48 and older T-55 models, over 600 armored vehicles and 32 US-made Bradleys delivered between 2018 and 2021.
The air force is modest, with five Super Tucanos, three AC-208 Caravans, around 30 utility and light attack helicopters and a handful of reconnaissance drones. Air defense is virtually nonexistent, leaving a critical vulnerability in a region dominated by missiles and drones.
The navy, with nearly 70 patrol and interception vessels, focuses on coastal surveillance, combating maritime trafficking and securing Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Its Achilles heel is offshore activities, i.e., activities off the Lebanese coast. This is a crucial point because it is offshore that the EEZ is defended.
Specialized units, such as marine commandos and rapid intervention regiments, stand out for their rigorous training and battlefield effectiveness.
An Underfunded Army
Defense spending reached roughly $1.2 billion in 2021, modest by regional standards. Following the country’s economic collapse, the real budget has dropped to around $100 million, making the army heavily dependent on foreign aid. Today, the army is demanding $1 billion for its operations.The United States, France and other partners such as Qatar provide most of the equipment, training and occasionally funding to pay soldiers’ salaries. The Lebanese government, for its part, can only afford to pay the salaries of the army.
The army’s mission goes beyond purely military objectives. It shapes Lebanon’s internal balance, where most citizens demand that arms and authority reside solely with the state, while Hezbollah supporters and allied groups cling to the militia’s paramilitary role.
Regionally, Israel seeks tangible guarantees that Hezbollah’s arsenal will be neutralized, while Iran, the group’s main backer, continues to influence Lebanese affairs despite its weakened position.
A Decisive Test
The 2023–2027 troop modernization plan, originally intended to strengthen internal capacities, has taken on a new strategic significance. If the army succeeds in executing the mission entrusted to it, it could reestablish itself as the central actor and guarantor of national sovereignty. However, failure would risk plunging Lebanon further under the influence of militias and weakening the cohesion of the state.
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