10+ Interesting Facts About The Lebanese Army
Not only does the Lebanese Army enjoy the respect and love of the Lebanese people for its noble mission of serving and protecting the nation, but also for remaining the neutral, truly patriotic institution throughout Lebanon's ordeals over the decades.
As Lebanon steps into its 77th independence anniversary, here are some interesting facts about the Lebanese Army.
#1 Its origins go back in time
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The Lebanese Army's local roots extend to the first armed forces formed during the various dynasties that ruled the country, most notably during the Ottoman reign, during which Lebanese troops won the historic Battle of Anjar , despite being outnumbered.
#2 Lebanon celebrates its army on August 1st
URDA
On August 1st, 1945, at 00:00 hours, the then-existing Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was placed under the full authority of the National Government. Since then, August 1st is commemorated every year as the Lebanese Army Day.
#3 It ranked 6th in terms of growth
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Between the mid-'80s and the start of the 21st century, the number of active military personnel in the Lebanese Army doubled.
This made it the 6th fastest-growing military in the world at the time.
#4 The return to the south
Al-Riyadh
Following the 2006 war with Israel, the Lebanese Army deployed south of the Litani River for the first time since 1978, to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The deployment was celebrated by both locals and the soldiers themselves. "We are so happy. How can someone deploy in his land and not be happy?" a soldier told Reuters at the time.
#5 Its budget doesn't allow improvement
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Unfortunately, the Lebanese Army has lacked a military budget that would allow it to adopt new weapons and equipment for decades.
Its current annual budget, which amounts to $2.5 billion (64th in the world), is mostly spent on logistics equipment, salaries, and other fields that do not include improving its military strength.
#6 It depends mostly on foreign aid for armament
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Because the army's budget is insufficient for armament, it relies mostly on modest donations by foreign states, such as France, the UK, and, most notably, the United States for improvement.
#7 It made an unprecedented decision in 2007
El-Nashra
The 2007 Nahr El-Bared conflict between the Lebanese Army and Fatah Al-Islam is one of the army’s most significant and brutal standoffs with terrorism.
During the battle, the army made the historic decision to push into the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr El-Bared to put an end to the terrorists, when it was not allowed to enter Palestinian camps.
#8 One of its officers made history in the UK
Lebanese Army
In 2010, Naval Sub-Lieutenant Assaad El-Turk participated and excelled in a navy course that included more than 1,000 British and foreign naval officers from around the world.