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102-467: War of Elimination Operation Dinnieh Global War on Terrorism The Lebanese Armed Forces ( LAF ; Arabic : القوات المسلحة اللبنانية , romanized :  Al-Quwwāt al-Musallaḥa al-Lubnāniyya ), also known as the Lebanese Army ( Arabic : الجيش اللبناني , romanized :  Al-Jaish al-Lubnani ), is the military of Lebanon . It consists of three branches, the ground forces,

204-440: 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. The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against

306-778: A diaspora in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Africa, which is predominantly Maronite Christian. As the relative proportion of the various sects is politically sensitive, Lebanon has not collected official census data on ethnic background since 1932 under the French Mandate . It is therefore difficult to have an exact demographic analysis of Lebanese society. The largest concentration of people with Lebanese ancestry may be in Brazil , having an estimated population of 5.8 to 7 million. However, it may be an exaggeration given that an official survey conducted by

408-473: 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 on August 16, 2015, while trying to flee the country on a false passport. On August 2, 2014, following the arrest of an Al-Nusra Front commander Abu Ahmad Jumaa, terrorists from Al-Nusra and ISIS launched an assault on

510-462: A decisive step that considerably shortened the conflict. 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

612-604: A disagreement with the Syrians. The conflict came to be known as the war of elimination (حرب الإلغاء), the term which was used by the LF to denote the attempt by Aoun to eliminate it. However, Aoun used the term Weapon Unification Battle (معركة توحيد البندقية) since he claimed his purpose was to submit all weapons in the country to the Lebanese Army. Nonetheless, the weapons are still possessed today by parties other than

714-402: A meeting point for different cultures and traditions. Lebanon's religious diversity is also a significant component of the national identity. The country is home to a plurality of religious communities, including Muslims , Christians , and Druze . Each community has its own distinct religious practices, traditions, and customs, which have been passed down through generations. However,

816-595: A second language of instruction. The use of Arabic by Lebanon's educated youth is declining, as they usually prefer to speak in French and, to a lesser extent, English. It is also a reaction to the negativity associated with Arabic since the September 11 attacks . In 1997, the Lebanese government committed to a policy of trilingualism in education, including French and English alongside the official Arabic language in

918-809: A small presence. In Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast are home to over 100,000 Lebanese. There are significant Lebanese populations in other countries throughout Western and Central Africa . Australia hosts over 180,000 and Canada 250,000. In the Arab world, around 400,000 Lebanese live in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf . More than 2,500 ex- SLA members remain in Israel. Until recently, Lebanon provided no automatic right to Lebanese citizenship for emigrants who lost their citizenship upon acquiring

1020-555: 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

1122-441: Is US-made, with the remaining being UK, French, and Soviet-made. During the period of semi-autonomous province of Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate between 1861 and 1914, the province reportedly had its own army of volunteer militias which gained the attention of a traveler in 1914, contending: "the free independent bearing of these mountaineers was in striking contrast to that of the underpaid, underfed and poorly clothed conscripts of

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1224-469: Is a common non-native language in Lebanon , with about 50% of the population being Francophone. A law determines the cases in which the French language is to be used within government, and is often used as a prestige language for business, diplomacy and education. Almost 40% of Lebanese are considered francophone , and another 15% "partial francophone," and 70% of Lebanon's secondary schools use French as

1326-427: Is almost never used in conversations and is learned through formal instruction rather than transmission from parent to child . The majority of Lebanese people speak Lebanese Arabic , which is grouped in a larger category called Levantine Arabic , while Modern Standard Arabic is mostly used in magazines, newspapers, and formal broadcast media. Code-switching between Arabic and French is very common. French

1428-476: Is composed of: 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,

1530-552: Is constantly growing and includes M60 Patton tanks, 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. Throughout its 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

1632-490: Is currently in the process of restoring its jet capabilities and considering the purchase of a small number of fighters or jet trainers. The Lebanese Navy , officially the Lebanese Naval Forces ( Arabic : القوات البحرية اللبنانية , romanized :  al-quwwat al-bahriya al-lubnaniyah ) is responsible for protecting Lebanon 's territorial waters , ports , and fighting illegal smuggling of goods. At

1734-467: Is distinct from the spoken Aramaic of Lebanon, which was a Western Aramaic language . Some Lebanese Christians identify themselves as Lebanese rather than Arab, seeking to draw on "the Phoenician past to try to forge an identity separate from the prevailing Arab culture ". The conquest of Lebanon during the Arab and Islamic conquests was linked to the conquest of Bilād Al-Shām as a whole, or what

1836-597: 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. In 2008, the Lebanese Armed Forces started establishing the Lebanese Special Operations Command in order to group

1938-502: Is famous in Lebanese society. While traditional folk music remains popular in Lebanon, modern music reconciling traditional styles, pop, and fusion are rapidly advancing in popularity. Radio stations feature a variety of genres and languages, including traditional, classical Arabic and Armenian Prominent traditional musicians include Fairuz , an icon during the civil war , Sabah Melhem Barakat, Wadih El Safi , Majida El Roumi , and Najwa Karam who built an international audience for

2040-661: Is known as the Levant, being an integral part of it, the Arab Muslims swiftly took it from the Byzantine Empire during the era of Caliph Umar Ibn Al-Khattab , who ordered the division of the Levant when he conquered it, into four Ajnad , including the Jund Dimashq which includes Mount Lebanon with its corresponding western coastal plains and the eastern interior plains. Arabization and Islamization of

2142-486: Is relevant for the large Lebanese communities in different countries all over the world. Applications are reviewed by a committee within the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities of Lebanon. If an application is denied, the applicant can appeal the decision within one month from the date they are officially notified, using the address specified in their application. To be eligible, applicants must have their names, or

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2244-583: 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 re-arm 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

2346-500: Is to be found in Brazil , where according to the Brazilian and Lebanese governments claim, there are 7 million Brazilians of Lebanese descent. These figures, however, may be an exaggeration given that, according to a 2008 survey conducted by IBGE , in 2008, covering only the states of Amazonas, Paraíba, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso and Distrito Federal, 0.9% of white Brazilian respondents said they had family origins in

2448-448: Is very important in the Lebanese culture. Family functioning is associated with the values of collectivism in the Lebanese society. One person's family functioning is indicative of their individual status and identity. The average household size in Lebanon ranges between 3.9 and 4.9. Child-rearing practices are characterized by abundant protection imposed on children by parents. Unlike Western societies, parental control does not stop at

2550-717: The Aoun-Geagea War ) was an inter- Christian military conflict within the final phase of the Lebanese Civil War as part of the War of Liberation which took place between January to October 1990.It was fought between the Lebanese Army led by General Michel Aoun , and the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea. The confrontation lead to the total devastation of the Eastern Canton and ending with

2652-498: The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) showed that less than 1 million Brazilians claimed any Middle-Eastern origin. The Lebanese have always traveled the world, many of them settling permanently within the last two centuries. Estimated to have lost their status as the majority in Lebanon itself, with their reduction in numbers largely as a result of their emigration , Christians still remain one of

2754-696: The Lebanese Forces in East Beirut . In the months that followed, over 1000 people were killed. A month later in March, Aoun declared a halt to the fighting and announced his willingness to accept the Taif Agreement with some amendments. This confrontation ended with the Syrian army invading the Christian areas, the exile of Aoun to France , and Geagea's imprisonment after three years, due to

2856-710: The Lebanese military that have caused many Christians to flee the country, have re-tipped the demographic balance in favour of the Muslims and the Sunnis in particular. In addition, many thousands of Arab Bedouins in the Bekaa and in the Wadi Khaled region, who are entirely Sunnis, were granted Lebanese citizenship . Lebanon also has a Jewish population, estimated at less than 100. Most Lebanese people communicate in

2958-490: The Lebanese variety of Levantine Arabic , but Lebanon's official language is Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). French is recognized and used next to MSA on road signs and Lebanese banknotes . Lebanon's native sign language is the Lebanese dialect of Levantine Arabic Sign Language . English is the fourth language by number of users, after Levantine, MSA, and French. Lebanon's official language, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), has no native speakers in or outside Lebanon. It

3060-759: The Middle East Large numbers also reside elsewhere in North America, most notably in the United States (489,702) and in Canada , the people of full or partial Lebanese descent are between 190,275 (by ancestry, 2011 Census ) to 250,000 based on estimates. In the rest of the Americas, significant communities are found in Argentina , Mexico (400,000); Chile , Colombia and Venezuela , with almost every other Latin American country having at least

3162-722: The Ottoman Turks controlled Lebanon and introduced a variety of foods that have become staples in the Lebanese diet, such as cooking with lamb . After the Ottomans were defeated in World War I (1914–1918), France took control of Lebanon until 1943, when the country achieved its independence. The French introduced foods such as flan , caramel custard , eclairs , french fries and croissants . The Lebanese diaspora who live worldwide has introduced new ingredients, spices and culinary practices into Lebanese cuisine, keeping

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3264-800: The Syrian army invading the Christian Areas, Aoun's exile to France and subsequently the end of the Civil War On 22 September 1988, Michel Aoun, the Commander of the Army at the time, was appointed by president Amine Gemayel as the head of the Lebanese Government . On 14 March 1989, Aoun declared the War of Liberation against the Syrian occupation army in Lebanon . On 31 January 1990, Aoun launched an offensive against

3366-747: The Troupes Spéciales du Levant enlisted in the Free French forces and participated in combat in Italy , North Africa , and southern France. 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 (tirailleurs) Regiment

3468-572: The United States . With the diaspora included, the Christians are an absolute majority. Lebanon has a population of Mhallamis also known as Mardinli ), most of whom migrated from northeast Syria and southeast Turkey are estimated to be between 75,000 and 100,000 and considered to be part of the Sunni population. These have in recent years been granted Lebanese citizenship and, coupled with several civil wars between Islamic extremists and

3570-741: The United States Department of State found that of Lebanon's population of approximately 4.3 million is estimated to be: 54% Islam ( Shia and Sunni , 27% each), 40.5% Christian (21% Maronite , 8% Greek Orthodox , 5% Melkite Catholics , 1% Protestant , 5.5% other minority Christian denominations like Latin Catholics, Armenian Orthodox , Armenian Catholic , Syriac Catholic , Syriac Orthodox , Chaldean Catholic , Assyrian Catholic and Coptic Orthodox ) and 5.5% Druze (a minority religion, descended from Shia Islam, who do not consider themselves to be Muslim, even though under

3672-608: The World Intellectual Property Organization , Lebanon's music industry is growing and could attain leading status in the region. Lebanese performers are celebrated throughout the Arab World, and with the notable exception of Egypt enjoy increasing regional popularity. Rising demand for Arabic music outside Western Asia has provided Lebanese artists with a small but significant global audience. However, widespread piracy continues to inhibit

3774-457: The air force , and the navy . The motto of the Lebanese Armed Forces is "Honor, Sacrifice, Loyalty" (Arabic: "شرف · تضحية · وفاء" - Sharaf.Tadhia.Wafa ). In politically unstable Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been described as one of the few state institutions in the country trusted by both the Lebanese population and the international community; and a guarantor of stability in multi-sectarian Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces emblem consists of

3876-622: 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, Israel did bomb several Lebanese military bases. 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. On several occasions, Lebanese troops fired anti-air weapons at Israeli aircraft, but no damage

3978-452: The 3rd battalion of the Lebanese Army, backed by Arab Liberation Army , fought Israeli forces occupying the Lebanese villages of Qadas and Malkieh and captured them, subsequently handing them over to the ALA and withdrawing by 8 July. This was the first major combat operation for the Lebanese Armed Forces under the independent Lebanese government. The Lebanese military has been described by

4080-777: The Arabization of Christians was completed before the First Crusade . By the thirteenth century, Arabic language achieved dominance in the region and its speakers became Arabs. The total Lebanese population is estimated at 8 to 18 million. Of these, the vast majority, or 4 - 14 million, constitute part of the Lebanese diaspora (residing outside of Lebanon), with approximately 4.7 million citizens residing in Lebanon itself. There are approximately 4.7 million Lebanese citizens in Lebanon. In addition to this figure, there are an additional 1 million foreign workers (mainly Syrians ), and about 470,000 Palestinian refugees in

4182-459: The East , Syriac Catholic Church , Syriac Orthodox Church , Chaldean Catholic Church ) and Copts ( Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria ), who immigrated to Lebanon over the years. No official census has been taken since 1932, reflecting the political sensitivity in Lebanon over confessional (i.e. religious) balance. A study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, cited by

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4284-473: The Economist as one of the few respected institutions left in a fragmented Lebanon. Under the leadership of General Joseph Aoun , the army has been considered immune to sectarian preferences as well as immune to corruption. According to Nicholas Nasser, the LAF is "one of the few institutions that command the trust of both the vast majority of Lebanese citizens and international stakeholders". Nasser described

4386-471: The Economist, the army has also fought armed sectarian groups within Lebanon. The LAF is also seen as key to maintaining stability within Lebanon. The LAF Command is headquartered at Yarzeh. The organizational structure of the LAF Command includes: The Lebanese Ground Forces ( Arabic : القوات البريّة , romanized :  al-quwwat al-barriya , lit.   'Ground Forces') are by far

4488-500: 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. 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

4590-557: 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 was to be handed over to the Independent Government of Lebanon. These units were part of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant and totaled about 3,000 men. On August 1, 1945, at 00:00 hours, the LAF was placed under full authority of

4692-789: 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. The Lebanese Armed Forces has six official military colleges and schools that serve

4794-475: The Lebanese Armed Forces in the town of Arsal and seized control of the town. By August 7, a fragile truce was established as ISIS and Al Nusra 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 reestablished control over checkpoints that

4896-508: 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 Lebanese artillery in that area to eliminate snipers posted around the cities. The conflict finally ended on September 2, 2007, with

4998-506: 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,

5100-664: The Lebanese Citizenship”. Under this law, members of the Lebanese diaspora can apply to reacquire the Lebanese citizenship, it specifies that applications must be submitted before November 25, 2025. In 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Emigrants launched an initiative called "The Lebanese Nationality Program" or "Lebanity", for people of Lebanese heritage around the world to apply for Lebanese Nationality, allowing them to benefit from their business, financial, consular, personal, social and political rights as Lebanese, wherever they are. In particular, this initiative

5202-511: The Lebanese National Government; this day is commemorated annually as Lebanese Army Day. 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

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5304-456: The Lebanese in the diaspora are Christians, disproportionately so in the Americas where the vast majority reside. An estimate figure show that they represent about 75% of the Lebanese in total. Lebanese abroad are considered "rich, educated and influential" and over the course of time immigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. The largest number of Lebanese

5406-745: The Lebanese people are Christianity (the Maronite Church , the Greek Orthodox Church , the Melkite , the Protestant Church ) and Islam ( Shia and Sunni ). The third-largest religion is Druze . There are other non-Lebanese Christian minorities such as Armenians ( Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Catholic Church ), French - Italians ( Latin Catholic Lebanese ), Assyrians ( Assyrian Church of

5508-410: The Lebanese people are known for their resilience and their ability to come together in times of crisis which has helped to strengthen their sense of national identity. Among Lebanese Maronites , Aramaic still remains the liturgical language of the Maronite Church, although in an Eastern Aramaic form (the Syriac language , in which early Christianity was disseminated throughout the Middle East),

5610-419: The Lebanon. 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). 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

5712-407: The Levant approximately 3,750–2,170 years ago. In a 2020 study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics , authors showed that there is substantial genetic continuity in Lebanon and the Levant since the Bronze Age (3300–1200 BC) interrupted by three significant admixture events during the Iron Age , Hellenistic , and Ottoman period, each contributing 3%–11% of non-local ancestry to

5814-445: The Levant began in the 7th century, and it took several centuries for Islam, the Arab identity, and language to spread; the Arabs of the caliphate did not attempt to spread their language or religion in the early periods of the conquest, and formed an isolated aristocracy. The Arabs of the caliphate accommodated many new tribes in isolated areas to avoid conflict with the locals; caliph Uthman ordered his governor, Muawiyah I , to settle

5916-415: The Levant). These indigenous troops were diverse units composed of Lebanese , Syrian , Circassian and Kurdish enlisted personnel; all commanded predominantly by French officers. By 1938, the Troupes Speciales numbered 10,000 with 306 officers, of whom only 88 were French. In addition to the locally engaged Troupes Speciales ; North African , Senegalese and French military units served in Syria and

6018-459: The Maronite church. Lebanese cuisine has ancient roots and is part of the culinary tradition of the Eastern Mediterranean . Many dishes in Lebanese cuisine can be traced back thousands of years to eras of Phoenician , Persian , Egyptian , Neo-Babylonian , Roman , Greek , Byzantine , Arab and Ottoman rule. In the last 500 years, Lebanese cuisine has been influenced by the different foreign civilizations that held power. From 1516 to 1918,

6120-467: The Maronite generals. On 4 July 1991, following the failure of disarmament negotiations, as required by the Taif Agreement , the Lebanese Army attacked Palestinian positions in Southern Lebanon. The offensive, involving 10,000 troops against an estimated 5,000 militia, lasted 3 days and ended with the Army taking all the Palestinian positions around Sidon . In the agreement that followed all heavy weapons were surrendered and infantry weapons only allowed in

6222-553: The Syrian Army. On 1 October 2024, Israel invaded Lebanon as part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict . The Lebanese Armed Forces did not enter in direct combat against Israel Defence Forces , instead retreating to about five kilometres from Lebanon's southern border with Israel. War of Elimination (1990, Lebanon) LF victory Second phase: 1977–1982 Third phase: 1982–1984 Fourth phase: 1984–1990 Cantons and puppet states The War of Elimination ( Arabic : حرب الإلغاء or War of Attrition , also known as

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6324-401: 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

6426-420: The admixed population. The admixtures were tied to the Sea Peoples of the Late Bronze Age collapse , South or Central Asians , and Ottoman Turks , respectively. One study by the International Institute of Anthropology in Paris , France , confirmed similarities in the Y-haplotype frequencies in Lebanese, Palestinian , and Sephardic Jewish men, identifying them as "three Near-Eastern populations sharing

6528-472: The age of 18; instead, it continues for as long as the child lives in the parents' residence or until the child marries. Though Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages held in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities. Music

6630-555: The army as the embodiment of a multi sectarian society which is able to work together. The Lebanese army today has 80,000 troops. Due to sectarian pressures and the fragmented political system, the Lebanese army is held back from fulfilling its obligations to disarm Hizbullah. However the Lebanese military has been able to "operate as a police force", preventing sectarian violence and resolving tensions between refugees and local Christians . The military has also kept watch on Shia refugees in non Shia areas fleeing warzones. According to

6732-414: 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

6834-444: The citizenship of their host country, nor for the descendants of emigrants born abroad. This situation disproportionately affected Christians. In 2008, the Maronite Institution of Emigrants called for the establishment of an avenue by which emigrants who lost their citizenship may regain it, or their overseas-born descendants (if they so wish) may acquire it. On November 24, 2015, the Lebanese authorities enacted Law #41, “Reacquiring

6936-424: The cost of maintaining a large well equipped army. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Lebanon never spent more than 4% of its GNP on the military budget. 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

7038-421: The country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions. 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

7140-421: The country, the LAF would straight away enforce peace. On May 13, the national army 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. Since the outbreak of conflict in Syria, the Lebanese Army has been deployed to prevent clashes from taking place in the city of Tripoli , as well as in other hot zones such as Beirut and Arsal on

7242-424: The cuisine innovative and renowned both beyond and within its borders. Chef and writer Tara Khattar describes her style of cookery as 'progressive Lebanese cuisine'. In literature, Kahlil Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Laozi . He is particularly known for his book The Prophet (1923), which has been translated into over twenty different languages. Ameen Rihani

7344-514: The curriculum. L'Orient-Le Jour is a Lebanese French-language newspaper. Syriac Aramaic is also spoken as a first language in some Lebanese communities such as Syriac Catholics , Syriac Orthodox and Assyrian Lebanese. Syriac remained both the sole vernacular language of the Maronites until the 14th century when the Mamluks conquered North Lebanon. It is It still used in liturgies by

7446-411: 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 outcry from the soldiers who could have died, leading to even greater divisions and blame on the political forces. However, whenever ceasefire was brought into action in a specific area or district in Beirut or elsewhere in

7548-668: The eastern borders. In 2014, ISIS and Al-Nusra Front terrorist groups established small bases and fortifications in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains , where they operated against Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army. 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

7650-478: The elite of the Lebanese Armed Forces. 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

7752-503: The fence; Israeli troops returned fire. Three LAF soldiers, one Israeli officer and one Lebanese journalist were killed in the incident (after Israeli artillery & aircraft bombing). According to UN reports, there was no evidence that an Israeli soldier had entered Lebanese territory. The UNIFIL force stationed in the south described the shootout as a "serious incident". The 2007 Lebanon conflict began when fighting broke out between Fatah al-Islam , an Islamic terrorist organization, and

7854-483: The formal language of the state prompted the cultural and linguistic assimilation of Syrian converts. Those who remained Christian also became Arabized; it was probably during the Abbasid period in the ninth century that Christians adopted Arabic as their first language; the first translation of the gospels into Arabic took place in this century. Many historians, such as Claude Cahen and Bernard Hamilton, proposed that

7956-716: The genre. Historical figure and Lebanese musical pioneer Lydia Canaan is listed in the catalog of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum 's Library and Archives in Cleveland, Ohio, USA as the first rock star of the Middle East . Canaan's unique style fuses Middle-Eastern quarter notes and microtones with anglophone rock. Marcel Khalife , a musician who blends classical Arab music with modern sounds, boasts immense popularity for his politically charged lyrics. Distinguished pop artists include Nancy Ajram , Haifa Wehbe , Fadl Shaker , Elissa , and Mika . According to

8058-737: The government, like Hezbollah . Some believe that the war was agreed between Aoun and the Syrians, in order to eliminate the Lebanese Forces and allow the Syrian army to enter the Christian Area, in return for Aoun's presidency. However, when the Syrians did not keep the promise, he declared the War of Liberation on the Syrians. However, 26 years later, in 2016 Aoun became the president of Lebanon . Lebanese people The Lebanese people ( Arabic : الشعب اللبناني / ALA-LC : ash-shaʻb al-Lubnānī , Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [eʃˈʃæʕeb ellɪbˈneːne] ) are

8160-743: 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. The Lebanese Special Forces are

8262-419: The identity has also been shaped by a long history of political and social conflict. The country has experienced a series of civil wars , foreign invasions , and political crises, which has deepened divisions between different communities and eroded trust in the government and institutions. Lebanon has managed to maintain a sense of national unity and identity. In the face of political and social challenges,

8364-534: The largest of the three branches of the military. The Lebanese Ground Forces consist of: The Fourth Brigade was previously active but was disbanded in 1984. The Lebanese Air Force ( Arabic : القوات الجوية اللبنانية , romanized :  al-quwwat al-jawiyah al-lubnaniyah ) currently has a number of helicopters including the Bell UH-1H Huey, Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma , Gazelle , Cessna Caravan , Hawker Hunters , and various others. The air force

8466-530: The less frequent haplogroups. In a 2017 study by Haber et al., the authors concluded that modern-day Lebanese individuals "derive most of their ancestry from a Canaanite -related population". This finding "implies substantial genetic continuity in the Levant since at least the Bronze Age." Additionally, the researchers identified Eurasian ancestry in modern Lebanese genomes that was absent in Bronze Age populations. They estimated Eurasian ancestry appeared in

8568-463: The major equipment that is not currently active are the AMX-13 , Saladin , Panhard M3 , and Staghound vehicles. The Lebanese air force has two A-29 Super Tucano aircraft as well as three Huey II helicopters delivered to it from the United States . The Lebanese air force in total holds 18 UAV s as well as 68 aircraft. The military ranks are as follows: Training of new conscripts takes place in

8670-566: The militants had previously seized. On July 21, 2017, Hezbollah, the Syrian Armed Forces and the Lebanese Army launched a military operation against ISIS and Tahrir al-Sham positions on the Lebanon–Syria border . The Lebanese army committed the 5th Infantry Brigade and 7th Infantry Brigade to the battle, and heavily shelled ISIS and HTS positions. By August 28, most of the around 2,100 militants surrendered to Hezbollah and

8772-513: The music industry's growth. In a 2011 genetic study by Haber et al. which analyzed the male-line Y-chromosome genetics of the different religious groups of Lebanon, revealed no large genetic differentiation between the Maronites , Greek Orthodox Christians , Greek Catholic Christians , Sunni Muslims , Shia Muslims , and Druze of the country in regards to the more frequent haplogroups. Major differences between Lebanese groups were found among

8874-520: The names of their paternal ancestors or male relatives on their father’s side, listed in the 1921–1924 census records (either residents or immigrants registers) and/or the 1932 immigrants registers, which are maintained by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. Lebanese people are very diverse in faith. The country has the most religiously diverse society in the Middle East, encompassing 17 recognized religious sects. The main two religions among

8976-914: The nation. Lebanon is also a home to various ethnic minorities found refuge in the country over the centuries. Prominent ethnic minorities in the country include the Armenians , the Kurds , the Turks , the Assyrians , the Iranians and some European ethnicities ( Greeks , Italians , French ). There are also a small number of nomadic Dom Gypsies (part of the Roma people of South Asian, particularly, Indian descent) The Lebanese diaspora consists of approximately 4 - 14 million, both Lebanese-born living abroad and those born-abroad of Lebanese descent. The majority of

9078-422: The new tribes away from the original population. Syrians who belonged to Monophysitic denominations welcomed the peninsular Arabs as liberators. The Abbasids in the eighth and ninth century sought to integrate the peoples under their authority, and the Arabization of the administration was one of the tools. Arabization gained momentum with the increasing numbers of Muslim converts; the ascendancy of Arabic as

9180-509: The people inhabiting or originating from Lebanon . The term may also include those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state. The major religious groups among the Lebanese people within Lebanon are Shia Muslims (27%), Sunni Muslims (27%), Maronite Christians (21%), Greek Orthodox Christians (8%), Melkite Christians (5%), Druze (5%), Protestant Christians (1%). The largest contingent of Lebanese, however, comprise

9282-412: 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. About 85% of the LAF's equipment

9384-516: The principal religious groups in the country. Descendants of Lebanese Christians make up the majority of Lebanese people worldwide, appearing principally in the diaspora . The Lebanese identity is rooted in a shared history and culture. Their rich cultural heritage includes food , music , literature , and art, which is also shaped by the country's location at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean. This has allowed it to be

9486-498: 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. The Lebanese Army still uses equipment mostly received through donations or friendly prices. Its workhorse

9588-597: The regular [Ottoman] army". The beginnings of the modern Lebanese Army arose during 1916, when the French government established the "Legion of the Orient", which included Lebanese soldiers. 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 to include the locally recruited Troupes Spéciales du Levant (Special Troops of

9690-474: The same time they tended to feel that the military should be strong enough to play a part in the Arab-Israeli struggle. In addition to the two major conflicting views, prominent Lebanese politicians of the myriad of 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. On 6 June 1948,

9792-521: 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 Yarzeh , east of Lebanon's capital, Beirut . The current commander in chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces is General Joseph Aoun . Currently, the LAF is ranked sixth in

9894-892: The terms of the Lebanese Constitution the Druze community is designated as a part of the Lebanese Muslim community.) There are also very small numbers of other religions such as Judaism , Mormons , Baháʼí Faith . While Jews have been present in Lebanon since ancient times, their numbers had dwindled during the Muslim era. By the 2000s the Jewish quarter of Beirut, Wadi Abu Jamil , was virtually abandoned, and there were only around 40 Jews left in Beirut. Many well-established Lebanese Jewish diaspora communities exists, such as in Brazil , France , Switzerland , Canada and

9996-473: The two refugee camps, Ain al-Hilweh and Mieh Mieh . 73 people were killed in the fighting, and 200 wounded, mostly Palestinian. 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. In

10098-468: The world in terms of growth, with the number of military personnel doubling over the period between 1985 and 2000. 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,

10200-543: Was a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist of Arab nationalism . Mikhail Naimy is widely recognized as among the most important figures in modern Arabic letters and among the most important spiritual writers of the 20th century. Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; including Elias Khoury , Amin Maalouf , Hanan al-Shaykh , and Georges Schéhadé . Family life

10302-469: Was documented. Overall, 49 Lebanese soldiers were killed. 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 whose crane lifted a soldier across the border to remove a tree off

10404-576: 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. After Lebanon gained independence in 1943, the Lebanese government formed an official delegation in 1944 to negotiate with

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