Editing Lebanese Armed Forces (section)

==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.<ref name="lafmission">{{cite web|url=http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/english/mission.asp|title=LAF Mission|publisher=Lebanese Armed Forces|access-date=19 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615034541/http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/Mission.asp|archive-date=15 June 2009}}</ref>

The armed forces consist of 84,200 active personnel with the ground force consisting of approximately 80,000 troops, the air force 2,500 personnel and 1,700 in the naval force. The remaining personnel are commanders, advisors, engineers and members of the special forces. The LAF is an all-volunteer force. 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 [[Yarze]]h, east of Lebanon's capital, [[Beirut]]. The current commander in chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces is General [[Rodolph Haykal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/joseph-aoun|title=Joseph Aoun|website=الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني|date=7 March 2017 |access-date=2017-07-12|archive-date=2021-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306114556/https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/joseph-aoun|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mil_arm_for_gro-military-armed-forces-growth|title=Armed forces growth (most recent) by country|publisher=NationMaster.com|year=2002|access-date=December 13, 2008|archive-date=February 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217152611/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mil_arm_for_gro-military-armed-forces-growth|url-status=live}}</ref> The country has six military colleges and schools. Lebanese officers are sent to other countries such as the United States, 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The equipment of the LAF is outdated due to lack of funds, political bickering and until the 2000s, the presence of foreign forces.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 states. The United States remains a key partner for Lebanon in this improvement process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/us-military-assistance-lebanon-equipping-laf-not-transforming-it|title=US Military Assistance to Lebanon: Equipping LAF Not Transforming It|website=الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني|date=24 November 2015 |access-date=2018-02-05|archive-date=2021-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410060550/https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/us-military-assistance-lebanon-equipping-laf-not-transforming-it|url-status=live}}</ref> About 85% of the LAF's equipment is US-made, with the remaining being UK, French, and Soviet-made.<ref name="lafequipmentoff">{{cite web|url=http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/Equipments.asp |title=LAF Equipment |publisher=Lebanese Armed Forces |access-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719180511/http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/Equipments.asp |archive-date=19 July 2006 }}</ref>