Lebanon Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces; Lebanese Internal Security Forces Directorate (includes Mobile Gendarmerie); Directorate for General Security (DGS); Directorate General for State Security (2021)

note - the commander of the LAF is also the commander of the Army

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2019)

4.9% of GDP (2018)

4.5% of GDP (2017)

5.1% of GDP (2016)

4.5% of GDP (2015)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have approximately 60,000 active troops (57,000 Army; 1,500 Navy; 1,500 AF) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LAF inventory includes a wide mix of mostly older equipment, largely from the US and European countries, particularly France and Germany; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments (mostly second hand equipment) to Lebanon (2019 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17-25 years of age for voluntary military service (including women); no conscription (2019)

Military - note

the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the country since 1978, originally under UNSCRs 425 and 426 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese Government in restoring its effective authority in the area; following the July-August 2006 war, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1701 enhancing UNIFIL and deciding that in addition to the original mandate, it would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities; accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon; and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons; UNIFIL had about 10,000 military personnel deployed in the country as of December 2020

NOTE: The information regarding Lebanon on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Lebanon 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Lebanon 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.