Lebanese Armed Forces القوات المسلحة اللبنانية |
---|
Flag of the Lebanese Armed Forces |
Founded |
August 1, 1945 |
---|
Current form |
1983 and 1991 |
---|
Service branches |
Lebanese Army Lebanese Air Force Lebanese Navy |
---|
Headquarters |
Yarze, Lebanon |
---|
Leadership |
---|
Commander-in-chief |
Jean Kahwaji (2008–) |
---|
Minister of defense |
Samir Mouqbel |
---|
Chief of staff |
Walid Salman (2011–) |
---|
Manpower |
---|
Military age |
18–30 years of age for voluntary military service |
---|
Conscription |
No (abolished in 2007) |
---|
Available for military service |
1,106,879 males, age 18–49, 1,122,595 females, age 18–49 |
---|
Fit for military service |
934,828 males, age 18–49, 948,327 females, age 18–49 |
---|
Active personnel |
100,000 |
---|
Expenditures |
---|
Budget |
$1.275 billion (2013)[1] |
---|
Percent of GDP |
2.8% |
---|
Industry |
---|
Foreign suppliers |
Mexico Colombia United States France Argentina United Kingdom Saudi Arabia Russia Italy Brazil South Africa China Iran Germany (Navy) Venezuela Jordan Australia South Korea |
---|
Related articles |
---|
History |
1948 Arab-Israeli War 1958 Lebanon crisis The War over Water
Lebanese Civil War
Operation Dinnieh
Global War on Terrorism
|
---|
Ranks |
Military Ranks of Lebanon |
---|
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) (Arabic: القوات المسلحة اللبنانية | Al-Quwwāt al-Musallaḥa al-Lubnāniyya) or Forces Armées Libanaises (FAL) in French, also known as the Lebanese Army according to its official website[3] (Arabic: الجيش اللبناني or "Armée libanaise" in French), is the military of the Republic of Lebanon. It consists of three branches, the army, the air force and the navy. The motto of the Lebanese Armed Forces is "Honor, Sacrifice, Loyalty" (Arabic: "شرف · تضحية · وفاء" - Sharaf.Tadhia.Wafa'). The Lebanese Armed Forces symbol consists of a Lebanon cedar tree surrounded by two laurel leaves, positioned above the symbols of the three branches: the ground forces represented by the two bayonets, the navy represented by an anchor, and the air force represented by two wings.
General overview
The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.[4]
The armed forces consist of 87,000 active personnel with the ground force consisting of approximately 80,000 troops, the air force 2000 personnel and 5,000 in the naval force. The remaining personnel are commanders, advisors, engineers and members of the special forces. All three branches are operated and coordinated by the LAF Commander; a position customarily held by a Maronite Catholic Christian, from the ministry of defence which is located in Yarzeh, east of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. The actual commander in chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces is General Jean Kahwaji[5] Currently, the LAF is ranked sixth in the world in terms of growth, with the number of military personnel doubling over the period between 1985 and 2000.[6] The country has six military colleges and schools. Lebanese officers are sent to other countries such as the US, Russia or other parts of Europe to receive additional training.
The equipment of the LAF is outdated due to lack of funds, political bickering and until the 2000s, the presence of foreign forces. The Lebanese government is working with its partners to improve the armed forces' capabilities.
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. About 85% of the LAF's equipment is American-made, with the remaining being British, French, and Soviet-made.[7]
History
Lebanese soldiers during the mutasarrif period
The Lebanese Army finds its original local roots in the armed forces that were first formed under Prince Fakher el-Din II the Great in the early 17th-century during the Principality of Lebanon (1516-1842). The first major victory came on October 31, 1622 against the Ottoman Empire Army under the lead of the Pasha of Damascus in the Battle of Majdel Anjar. Outnumbered (5,000 Lebanese soldiers against 12,000 Syrians), Fakher el-Din was nevertheless victorious and was able to capture the Pasha of Damascus himself.[8]
During the period of the semi-autonomous province (Mutasarrifia) period of Mount Lebanon between 1861 and 1914, no Turkish troops were allowed to station within its boundary. Lebanon established its own army made up of volunteer militias; "the free independent bearing of these mountaineers was in striking contrast to that of the underpaid, underfed and poorly clothed conscripts of the regular [Turkish] army".[9]
The beginnings of the modern Lebanese Army arose during 1916, when the French government established the "Legion of the Orient", which included Lebanese soldiers.[10] After a post World War I League of Nations mandate was established over Lebanon in April 1920, France formed the Army of the Levant, which was later reorganized into the "Troupes Spéciales du Levant" (Special Troops of the Levant). These troops were composed of Lebanese and Syrian enlisted personnel, but were commanded predominantly by French officers; however, the percentage of Lebanese and Syrian officers in the force gradually increased in size to approximately 90% of the total number by 1945.[11]
Later in 1926, the Lebanese First Sharp Shooters Unit was created out of the Special Troops of the Levant; it is considered to be a direct precursor to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).[10]
During World War II, Lebanese troops fought in Lebanon with the Vichy French forces against Free French and British forces. After the Vichy forces in the Middle East surrendered in July 1941, volunteers from the Troupes Spéciales du Levant enlisted in the Free French forces and participated in combat in Italy, North Africa, and southern France.[11] In 1943, prior to the declaration of Lebanese independence, all the military units were combined in one brigade, the Fifth Brigade, under the command of General Fouad Chehab. On the day Lebanon declared independence, the Lebanese Third Sharp Shooters Regiment was placed at the disposal of the Lebanese government in order to maintain security. In June of the same year, the French reconstituted units of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant, which were then attached to the British forces in the Middle East. The majority of the Lebanese Armed Forces remained a part of the French Army in Lebanon.[11]
After gaining independence in 1943, the Lebanese government formed an official delegation in 1944 to negotiate with the French the terms related to handing over the LAF. After nearly three weeks of talks, the joint French-British Command decreed that responsibility for armed units under French control were to be handed over to the Independent Government of Lebanon.[10] These units were part of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant and totaled about 3,000 men.[11] On August 1, 1945 at 00:00 hours, the LAF was placed under full authority of the Lebanese National Government; this day is commemorated annually as Lebanese Army Day.[10]
The Lebanese Army first flag under the Independent Lebanon
After establishing authority over the LAF in 1945, the Lebanese government intentionally kept its armed forces small and weak due to the country's unique internal politics. Christian politicians feared that Muslims might use the armed forces as a vehicle for seizing power in a military coup. They also appeared unwilling to incur the cost of maintaining a large well equipped army.[11] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Lebanon never spent more than 4% of its GNP on the military budget.[11] Many Christian Lebanese also feared that a large army would inevitably force Lebanon into the Arab–Israeli conflict. However, Muslim politicians were also worried that a strong army could be used against Muslim interests because it would be commanded by Christians. At the same time they tended to feel that the military should be strong enough to play a part in the Arab-Israeli struggle.[11] In addition to the two major conflicting views, prominent Lebanese politicians of the myriad religious denominations in Lebanon have also tended to be feudal warlords commanding their own private militias and feared that a strong army would endanger their personal power.[11]
In 1948, the Lebanese Third Sharp Shooters Regiment fought Israeli Forces occupying the Lebanese village of Malkieh in the northern Galilee and captured it, and that by the orders of Lebanese defense minister then, Emir Majid Arslan II.[10][12] This was the first major combat operation for the Lebanese Armed Forces under the Independent Lebanese Government.
Commanders in chief
- Fuad Chehab Major General 01/08/1945 22/9/1958
- Toufic Salem Major General 09/10/1958 31/01/1959
- Adel Shehab Major General 01/02/1959 30/06/1965
- Emile Boustany General 01/07/1965 06/01/1970
- Jean Njeim General 07/01/1970 24/07/1971
- Iskandar Ghanem General 25/07/1971 09/09/1975
- Hanna Saïd General 10/09/1975 27/03/1977
- Victor Khoury General 28/03/1977 07/12/1982
- Ibrahim Tannous General 08/12/1982 22/06/1984
- Michel Aoun General 23/06/1984 27/11/1989
- Emile Lahoud General 28/11/1989 23/11/1998
- Michel Sleiman General 21/12/1998 24/05/2008
- Jean Kahwaji General 29/08/2008 present
Branches
Armed Forces Command
The LAF Command is headquartered at Yarzeh. The organizational structure of the LAF Command includes:
- The Commander-in-Chief
- The Chief of staff
- Deputy Chiefs of Staff
- Various Directorates
Lebanese Army Land Force
The Lebanese Armed Forces' strength lies in their ground forces which is by far the largest of the three branches of the military.
The Fourth Brigade was previously active but was disbanded in 1984.
The Lebanese Army Ground Forces consist of:
- 5 Regional Commands
- Beirut Region
- Bekaa Region
- Mount Lebanon Region
- North Region
- South Region
- 11 Brigades
- 5 Heavy (Mechanized) Brigades
- 6 Light Brigades
- First Artillery Regiment
- Second Artillery Regiment
- Rangers Regiment
- Includes the Mountain Combat Company.
- Airborne Regiment
- Counter-Sabotage Regiment (Moukafaha)
- First Intervention Force Regiment
- Second Intervention Force Regiment
- Third Intervention Force Regiment
- Fourth Intervention Force Regiment
- Fifth Intervention Force Regiment
- Sixth Intervention Force Regiment
- Republican Guard Brigade
- Medical Brigade
- Support Brigade
- Logistics Brigade
- Military Police
- Independent Construction Regiment
- First Armored Regiment
- First Land Border Regiment
- Second Land Border Regiment
The Lebanese Army still uses equipment mostly received through donations or friendly prices. Its work horse is the M113 which is commonly used by every regiment and brigade. A collection of Western and Soviet made weaponry and equipment exists ranging from rifles to tanks. However, the Lebanese Army is trying to rearm and modernize itself through new aid and purchases from different countries such as the United States, Belgium, Russia, and The Netherlands. A list of awaiting-for-delivery armaments is constantly growing and includes Leopard 1/A5 tanks,[13][14] more M60 Patton tanks,[15][16] M198 Howitzers, etc. A recent Russian promise to supply Lebanon with T-90 tanks has been in discussion since the Lebanese Defense Minister's last visit to Russia on December 16, 2008.[17]
Throughout history the Lebanese Army employed different weapons and equipment which, at the time, were considered state of the art. Most of these arms have either been phased out of service or sold to other countries. Among the major equipment that is not currently active are AMX-13, Saladin, Panhard M3, and Staghound vehicles.
Lebanese Air Force
The Lebanese Air Force is the air force branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It currently has a number of helicopters including the Bell UH-1H Huey, Gazelle, Cessna Caravan, Hawker Hunters and various others. The air force is currently in the process of restoring its jet capabilities and considering the purchase of a small number of fighters or jet trainers.
Lebanese Navy
Main article:
Lebanese Navy
The Lebanese Navy is responsible for protecting Lebanon's territorial waters, ports, and fighting illegal smuggling of goods. At the head of the naval hierarchy is 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.
The navy, which currently lacks a suitable amount of equipment, has approximately 50 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, it is trying to modernize itself, and increase its size.
Lebanese Special Forces
Lebanese Armed Forces |
Organization |
Ministry of National Defense |
Lebanese Air Force |
Lebanese Navy |
Lebanese Special Forces |
Lebanese Red Cross |
Personnel |
LAF Commanders |
Lebanese Military Personnel |
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 maintains its own form of Special Forces or Commandos. These include:
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 specialized areas that the Lebanese Armed Forces are unable to provide, due to a lack of resources. 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 specialized form of warfare and its associated tactics. Such tactics include: sabotage, sniping, extraction and covert operations. The Lebanese Special Forces are also well known for killing and eating snakes with their bare hands at graduation ceremonies.[18][19]
In 2008, the Lebanese Armed Forces started establishing the Lebanese Special Operations Command in order to group the LAF's elite units. These special operations forces will include the Airborne Regiment, the Rangers Regiment, the Navy Commandos Regiment, and the Counter-Sabotage Regiment of the Military Intelligence. The initial size of the force will be less than two brigades, around 5,000 troops, but the plan is to enlarge it up to three brigades.[20]
Colleges and Schools
The Lebanese Armed Forces has six official military colleges and schools that serve a wide variety of functions from officer training to overseeing national youth conscription programs. The recent emphasis on the First Flag Service Center is designed to help overcome the diverse nature of the population. The schools and colleges are:
The Staff and Command College, Military Academy, and Mountain Skiing Fighting School are training centers for Lebanese soldiers designed to upgrade the quality of their skills while the High Center for Military Sport is designed to keep them in peak physical shape (it also organizes sports groups and teams for international competition as well). The Training Institute is designed to help soldiers specialize in certain aspects of the military, such as artillery and defense.[21]
Military ranks
The military ranks are as follows:[22]
Generals
Senior officers
Junior officers
Non-commissioned officer ranks
Enlisted men
Camouflage patterns
Conscription
Lebanon previously had mandatory military service for men only. All men were required to do 1 year of military service through age 18+. Training was only done whenever they had free time or time off school including summer vacations and holidays. There were also training done alongside high school. 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.[23]
Training
Soldiers of the Lebanese army, 2009
Training of new conscripts takes place in the First Flag Service Center (FFSC). After a week of enlisting, they submit to two training courses, the common military training basic course and the specific course. All these courses are organized in details according to a program determining hours of training taking into consideration the conscript rank.[24] The first course consists of 240 hours equivalent to 9 weeks and the training program is composed of:
The second course consists of 84 hours equivalent to three weeks. The infantry course is composed of:
- Physical fitness
- Drill
- Infantry weapons, which are available in the Lebanese army and its tactics.
Military commandos in Lebanon eat snakes alive as part of their training.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
Combat History
1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War
A Lebanese Army personnel in Beirut in 1982.
As the civil war escalated, Lebanese militias grew stronger and soon surpassed the regular army. This rapidly undermined the authority of the central government. The government's ability to maintain order was also handicapped by the nature of the Lebanese Army. One of the smallest in the Middle East, it was composed based on a fixed ratio of religions. As members defected to sectarian militias, the army would eventually prove unable to contain the militant groups, rein in the PLO or monitor foreign infiltration. Since the government was Christian-dominated, especially the officers' ranks, trust among Muslims for central institutions, including the army, was low. The disintegration of the Lebanese Army was eventually initiated by Muslim deserters declaring that they would no longer take orders from the Maronite generals.
1999-2000 Dinnieh fighting
During December 1999-January 2000 an Islamic group launched a failed uprising against the Lebanese authorities in the Dinnieh district. In a period of 8 days of fighting in the snow-blanketed mountains east of the northern port of Tripoli, 14 soldiers and 25 rebels were killed.[42]
2006 War between Hizbullah and Israel
A Lebanese protest in Sydney to end the war between Lebanon and Israel
In the 2006 Lebanon War the LAF did not engage in a direct conflict with the Israeli Army, despite its threat of retaliation if the IDF pushed too far northward into Lebanon. However, the latter did bomb several Lebanese military bases.[43][44][45] While providing aid to civilians, Lebanese troops helped to uphold order in city streets, directed refugees to safer areas, and assisted with overlooking damage done by Israeli attacks.[43] On several occasions, Lebanese troops fired anti-air weapons at Israeli aircraft,[46] but no damage was documented. Overall, 49 Lebanese soldiers were killed.[47]
After the 2006 Lebanon 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, and cannot, disarm Hezbollah by force. On August 3, 2010, the Lebanese army fired at Israeli soldiers whom crane lifted a soldier across the border, to remove a tree off the fence; Israeli troops returned fire. 3 LAF soldiers, one Israeli officer and 1 Lebanese journalist were killed in the incident (After Israeli Artillery & aircraft bombing). According to UN reports, the border fence in the area is actually inside Israel's international border.[48] The UNIFIL force stationed in the south described the shootout as a "serious incident".
2007 North Lebanon conflict
Location of events
The 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam, a 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 primary theater of conflict was the Siege of Nahr el-Bared. There was heavy use of the Lebanese artillery in that area 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 Commandos and Infantrymen. The LAF Engineering Corps achieved what was seen as a feat of ingenuity during the conflict where they converted a number of UH-1 helicopters into bombers, arming them with 250 kg and 400 kg conventional bombs from old Hunter and Mirage III fighter jets. Some helicopters were also fitted with French Matra rocket pods. This was, according to observers, a decisive step that considerably shortened the conflict.[49]
2008 Hizbullah Attack on Beirut
A Lebanese M113 APC in Beirut, during the unrest of May 9, 2008.
During the week-long clashes that occurred at the beginning of May 2008 in Beirut and other regions of the country, the army was unable to prevent rival Lebanese groups from fighting each other. This was because the army, along with the government, had thought it would have been better if rival groups would eventually end the violence and sort out the dispute between them, alone, other than involving the national army which may have led to great divisions between the soldiers, just like in the civil war. It would have also caused an out cry to the soldiers that could have died, leading to even greater divisions and blame to the political forces.[50] However, whenever ceasefire was brought into action in a specific area or district in Beirut or else where in the country, the LAF would straight away enforce peace. On May 13, the national army had announced that if the clashes would not end as soon as possible, it would have to intervene and use force if necessary to stop them.[51]
2011-present Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon
The Lebanese army in Tripoli after sectarian clashes, in 2012.
Since the outbreak of conflict in Syria, the Lebanese Army has been deployed to prevent Sunni-Shiite clashes from taking place in the city as Tripoli, as well as in other hotzones such as Arsal and downtown Beirut. Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups have bases on Lebanon’s mountainous eastern border with Syria from where they operate against the Lebanese army and Hezbollah.[52] Lebanon's military is coming under immense strain from the Syrian conflict spilling across the border.
On June 23, 2013, intense clashes in Sidon took place between followers of Salafist Sunni preacher Ahmad Al-Assir and Lebanese troops. Following these clashes, the Lebanese Army was sent in to capture Sheikh Assir’s headquarters at Abra and apprehend him. Lebanese Army units fought against pro-Assir militants for two days in a battle that led to the deaths of at least 16 Lebanese soldiers, and the wounding of at least 50 men. Although the LAF managed to secure his complex, Assir was able to escape and was only captured in August 2015 while trying to flee the country on a false passport.[53][54]
On the 2nd of August 2014, following the arrest of an Al-Nusra Front Commander Abu Ahmad Jumaa; Terrorist groups Al-Nusra and ISIS launched an assault on the Lebanese Armed Forces in the town of Arsal and seized control of the town. By 7 August, a fragile truce was established as ISIS forces also retreated from the town and redeployed along the border with Syria. Their hideouts there were subsequently bombed by the Syrian Air Force. Two days later, the Lebanese Army entered Arsal in full force and re-established control over checkpoints that the militants had previously seized.[55]
Lebanese army has received US-made weapons and equipment to monitor Syrian terrorists groups and fight them. In 2015 Lebanese army has carried out qualitative operations against terrorists, especially in areas in the central eastern Bekaa Valley. Its goal is taking hold of strategic hills and closing paths used by the terrorists to infiltrate Lebanon. Three full brigades and five combat regiments have been deployed along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
See also
References
- ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2015, p.338
- ↑ United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Peacekeeping in between the Blue Line
- ↑ الجيش اللبناني. "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني | شرف، تضحية، وفاء". Lebarmy.gov.lb (in Arabic). Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "LAF Mission". Lebanese Armed Forces. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ↑ Archived January 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Armed forces growth (most recent) by country". NationMaster.com. 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2008.
- ↑ "LAF Equipment". Lebanese Armed Forces. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ↑ معركة عنجر - تفاصيل الموقعة وأسر والي دمشق (in Arabic). Kadmous. July 5, 2004. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ LEARY, LEWIS GASTON (November 1913). "2". Syria, The Land of Lebanon. New York: McBbidk, Nast & Co. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4446-7401-9. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "LAF History". Lebanese Armed Forces. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Lebanese Ground Forces". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ↑ Khalidi, Walid. (1992). All That Remains. Institute of Palestine Studies, p.471.
- ↑ "Feu vert pour la vente d’armes belges au Liban". RTL info (in French) (Mouvement pour le Liban). August 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ↑ "Le Liban achète 71 blindés à la Belgique" (in French). RTL Info. December 31, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
- ↑ "M60 Main Battle Tanks From U.S. to Lebanese Army". Nahar Net. November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ↑ Garamone, Jim (December 1, 2008). "U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ↑ Daragahi, Borzou; Rafei, Raed (December 18, 2008). "Russia to donate 10 fighter jets to Lebanon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
- ↑ "404 - File or directory not found.". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- ↑ Kahwaji, Riad (January 21, 2008). "Special Operations Command, More Military Aid for Beirut". Defense News.
- ↑ "Military Colleges & Schools". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ , Lebanese Army (official website) Archived December 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Training in the FFSC". Lebanese Army website. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
- ↑ "صور: صحف غربية تسخر من أكل الكوماندوز اللبناني لأفاعي حية في استعراض للقوة". Mz-mz.net. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ Wyke, Tom (2015-09-09). "Lebanese commandos eat LIVE SNAKES as they display their strength in Beirut". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "MEMRI: TV Reporter Visits Lebanese Commando Base and Participates in Traditional Eating of Live Snakes". Memritv.org. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "MEMRI: WARNING: Extreme Graphic Images - Lebanese Army Commandos and Visiting Teenagers Eat Live Snakes". Memritv.org. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Clip Transcript". Memritv.org. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Lebanese Army Commandos Eat Live Snakes". LiveLeak.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Hummus Nation: مباراة في "الطائرة" بين المدرسة الحربية والحكمة هاي سكول". Hummus-nation.blogspot.com. 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Photographic image" (JPG). 4.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Hummus Nation: November 2009". Hummus-nation.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Řľů…Ůšů" Ů"ŘŮˆŘż Ůšřşř°Ůƒřą .. Ůƒůšů Řłřźů‡Řś قا؜řż اŮ"Řźůšř´ اŮ"Řľů قاغ ŮˆŘ§Ů"Řłů…Řłřąř§Řşř&#X". Athabat.net. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "15021-4.JPG (image)". 3.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "4571-2.JPG (image)". 3.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب: The macho fools of Lebanon". Angryarab.blogspot.com. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب: Lebanese Army heroism, or histrionics". Angryarab.blogspot.com. 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب: Lebanese Army soldiers are still eating snakes". Angryarab.blogspot.com. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب: about the Lebanese snake eaters". Angryarab.blogspot.com. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Photographic image" (JPG). Parsine.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ Gambill, Gary C.; Endrawos, Bassam (September 2001). "Bin Laden's Network in Lebanon". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin.
- 1 2 الجيش اللبناني. "الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني | شرف، تضحية، وفاء". Lebarmy.gov.lb (in Arabic). Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ↑ "Israel bombs Lebanese army barracks". News.com.au. July 18, 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "IAF strikes Lebanese Air Force base". Jerusalem Post. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
- ↑ "Lebanese army stops Israeli helicopters landing". Reuters. 2006-07-30.
- ↑ شهداء حرب تموز (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ "BBC News - Israel-Lebanon border clash kills five people". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "Lebanon army takes control of camp after battle". Reuters. September 2, 2007. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008.
- ↑ "Gunbattles break out in Beirut". CNN. May 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
- ↑ "Lebanese army deploys troops around the country to impose law and order by force". Fox News. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
- ↑ their operations against the Lebanese army and Hezbollah’s fighters
- ↑ "Lebanon army seizes radical sunni clerics’s HQ". 25 June 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "Lebanon arrests wanted militant cleric Ahmad al-Assir". BBC News. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ "Kahwagi: Army will do utmost to free hostages". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
External links
|
---|
| Organization | |
---|
| | |
---|
| Special units | |
---|
| | |
---|
| | |
---|
| Civilian auxiliaries | |
---|
| | Bases |
---|
| Army by region | |
---|
| Air Force | |
---|
| Naval | |
---|
|
|
|
|
|
---|
| Africa | |
---|
| Americas | |
---|
| Asia |
- Afghanistan
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Myanmar (Army, Navy)
- Cambodia
- People's Republic of China (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- India (Army, Air Force, Navy)
- Indonesia
- Iran (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Korea
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Pakistan (Army, Air Force, Navy)
- Philippines
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Syria
- Taiwan (Army, Navy)
- Thailand
- Vietnam
| | Former | |
---|
| Comparative | |
---|
|
---|
| Europe |
- Albania
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Estonia
- Finland
- France (Army, Navy, Gendarmerie, Air Force)
- Germany (Rank information, Rank insignia)
- Georgia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland (Land Forces, Coast Guard)
- Ireland (Army, Naval Service, Air Corps)
- Italy (Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri, Finance Guard)
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia (... 1994–2010, after 2010 Army, Navy and Air Force)
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Vatican
| | Former |
- Austria–Hungary
- Czechoslovakia
- Hungarian People's Republic
- East Germany
- Nazi Germany (Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Militia, SA, SS)
- Kingdom of Greece (Army, Navy, Air Force)
- Kingdom of Hungary
- Russian Empire
- Soviet Union (1918-35, 1935–40, 1940–43, 1943-55, and 1955-91)
- Kingdom of Yugoslavia
- SFR Yugoslavia
- FR Yugoslavia
|
---|
| Comparative | |
---|
|
---|
| Oceania | |
---|
|
| | | |