Editing Lebanon (section)

=== Military ===
{{Main|Lebanese Armed Forces}}
[[File:Lebanese Armed Forces.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the Lebanese army, 2009|right|176x176px]]

The [[Lebanese Armed Forces|Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)]] has 72,000 active personnel,<ref name="Lebanon">{{cite news|title=Lebanese Armed Forces, CSIS (Page 78)|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/090210_lafsecurity3.pdf|access-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805164253/http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/090210_lafsecurity3.pdf|archive-date=5 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> including 1,100 in the air force, and 1,000 in the navy.<ref name="Stinson">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-01-lebanon-forces_x.htm|title=Lebanese forces may play bigger role in war|last=Stinson|first=Jefferey|date=1 August 2006|work=USA Today|access-date=22 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521121942/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-08-01-lebanon-forces_x.htm|archive-date=21 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The LAF is considered less powerful and influential than [[Hezbollah]] in Lebanon. Hezbollah has 20,000 active fighters and 20,000 in reserves and is supplied with advanced weaponry, including rockets and drones from [[Iran]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mediterranean gas sends sparks flying between Lebanon and Israel |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/08/21/mediterranean-gas-sends-sparks-flying-between-lebanon-and-israel |access-date=25 December 2023 |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225132203/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/08/21/mediterranean-gas-sends-sparks-flying-between-lebanon-and-israel |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Hezbollah? |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hezbollah |access-date=25 December 2023 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129032149/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hezbollah |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="lafmission">{{cite web|url=http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/english/mission.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040808145709/http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/Mission.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 August 2004|title=LAF Mission|publisher=Lebanese Armed Forces|access-date=19 May 2009}}</ref>

Lebanon is a major recipient of foreign military aid.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gfs5KFnHsffexKiQgh0f4eWb4Nbw |title=US military aid at stake in Lebanon elections |last=Lanteaume |first=Sylvie |date=4 August 2009 |agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523054703/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gfs5KFnHsffexKiQgh0f4eWb4Nbw |archive-date=23 May 2012}}</ref> With over $400 million since 2005, it is the second largest per capita recipient of [[United States military aid|American military aid]] behind Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2933|title=The Future of U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon|last=Schenker|first=David|date=3 October 2008|work=[[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]]|access-date=9 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826093558/http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2933|archive-date=26 August 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hezbollah effectively controls large portions of southern Lebanon, and has greater military strength than the Lebanese armed forces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nashed |first=Mat |title=Could rival Lebanese factions exploit a weakened Hezbollah? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/30/could-rival-lebanese-factions-exploit-a-weakened-hezbollah |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> The government of Lebanon has been unable or unwilling to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel, and violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Hezbollah? {{!}} Council on Foreign Relations |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hezbollah |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.cfr.org |language=en}}</ref> Many Islamist and Palestinian militias operate in refugee camps because of an agreement that prevents the Lebanese Army from entering them. Many people wanted by the Lebanese government are believed to have taken refuge in the camp as a result of the lack of Lebanese authority.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}