Lebanese Army

UNIFIL Chief Abaniara Reaffirms Mission in South Lebanon

Major General Diodato Abaniara, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Thursday reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese Army (LAF) in extending its authority, maintaining security, and protecting residents of southern Lebanon. Responding to questions about UNIFIL’s priorities following the ...

UK Inaugurates Upgraded Lebanese Armed Forces Training Facility in Zahrani

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 ...

Residents Protest Against UNIFIL Patrol in Deir Siryan

On Wednesday, residents of Deir Siryan, close to Hezbollah, protested after a Finnish UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) patrol reportedly entered private olive groves without being accompanied by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The incident comes ahead of a vote on the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the UN Security Council ...

UNIFIL and LAF Discover Tunnel and Unexploded Ordnance in South Lebanon

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers have discovered a 50-meter-long tunnel and several unexploded pieces of ordnance near the town of al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon, the mission announced Wednesday. The discovery was made in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), according to a UNIFIL press release. “In ...

LAF Destroys Cannabis Crops, Seizes Drugs and Captagon-Making Equipment

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced on Wednesday that one of its units destroyed seven dunums of cannabis crops in the town of Zarazir, Baalbeck. In a statement, the Army Command said that as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, an army unit, supported by a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate, raided the homes of ...

Aoun Stresses Lebanon’s Commitment to Renewing UNIFIL's Mandate

A week ahead of U.N. talks on extending UNIFIL’s mandate, and with some Security Council members questioning the usefulness of renewing the peacekeepers’ mission, President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to maintaining the multinational force in the south “for as long as necessary” to fully implement UN Resolution ...

Iraq-Lebanon Dismantle Major Captagon Factory

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday that, in coordination with Lebanese authorities, one of the largest Captagon factories in the Middle East has been dismantled. In a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the ministry said that “close security and intelligence cooperation between Iraq’s General Directorate of ...

Lebanese Army Denies Syrian Airspace Violations Amid Cross-Border Threats

The Lebanese Army has denied recent media claims that its Air Force breached Syrian airspace to monitor military activity along the border. Some news sources had suggested that the patrols were in response to threats from armed Syrian groups intending to enter Lebanon and carry out security operations.  In an official statement, the Army ...

LAF Arrest Suspect in Pascal Suleiman Kidnapping Case

The Lebanese Army (LAF) Intelligence Directorate arrested B.J., a suspect implicated in the 2024 kidnapping and killing of Pascal Sleiman. In a press release issued Thursday, LAF described the operation as “precision-targeted,” noting that B.J. was among the most wanted individuals, with dozens of arrest warrants for kidnapping, theft, ...

LAF Denounces Leaks of Officer Reshuffle Details

The Lebanese Army (LAF) addressed circulating reports following Monday’s announcement of a major reshuffle affecting 107 military positions. In a statement released Tuesday, LAF indicated that some media outlets, news websites, and social media platforms shared a leaked memo detailing the transfers and dismissals of officers, accompanied by ...

Zebqine Explosion: Rising Speculation Following the Death of Six Soldiers

Six Lebanese soldiers lost their lives on Saturday, August 9, in a powerful blast in the Zebqine valley near Majdel Zoun, in the Tyre district. The soldiers, who were part of the Engineering Unit, were carrying out a mission to dismantle an ammunition depot alongside members of the Fifth Brigade when the explosion occurred. This tragedy comes at ...

Army Arrests Drug and Arms Smugglers in East Lebanon

The Lebanese Army announced on Monday that it conducted a series of security operations, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of illicit materials, including drugs and arms. In a raid in the town of Brital in Baalbeck, an army unit, supported by a Directorate of Intelligence patrol, arrested a Lebanese national and a Syrian for ...