The United Kingdom inaugurated a newly upgraded Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) training facility in Zahrani, southern Lebanon, on Wednesday.
British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell attended the ceremony alongside senior LAF and UK defense officials.
In a statement posted on Thursday, the embassy said that the facility, developed with the backing of the UK Government’s ISF, is designed to strengthen the readiness of LAF troops for deployment across southern Lebanon. The UK is also supplying 1,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to safeguard soldiers as they carry out critical duties.
Since 2024, the UK has committed more than £17 million to support the expanded deployment of the LAF, particularly in southern Lebanon, reinforcing the army’s role as the sole legitimate military force in the country and enhancing its operational resilience nationwide, according to the embassy’s website.
The Zahrani training center builds on over a decade of UK collaboration with the LAF. Since 2013, the UK has worked closely with the LAF’s Land Border Regiments to strengthen state authority along the border with Syria, combat smuggling, and protect local communities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ambassador Cowell said the facility “is a testament to our enduring partnership and shared vision for a safer Lebanon.” He added that the UK’s support aims to “strengthen LAF resilience, address critical infrastructure needs, and enable their permanent and sustainable presence in South Lebanon.”
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