Military Cooperation and Non-State Armed Formations in Lebanon
This material is one of ten analytical briefs accompanying the full report on the security of Lebanon’s information environment. It forms part of a broader series examining key trends and incidents shaping the informational landscape. We encourage you to read the full report:
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Lebanon’s modern security architecture is based on a delicate balance between the formal army, supported by foreign partners, and a complex mosaic of non-state armed groups. Crucial to this setup is military aid from the United States and France, as well as the role of UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL), whose presence stabilizes Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. Despite this, state security structures are weakened by political deadlock and limited public trust.
At the same time, the informal security sphere – represented by groups such as Hezbollah, Amal, Fatah al-Islam, and the Islamic Unification Movement – forms a parallel system of power, influence, and loyalty. Many of these organizations are linked to foreign patrons like Iran and Syria, further complicating Lebanon’s sovereignty and its ability to monopolize the use of force. As a result, Lebanon operates as a state with a fragmented security system, where armed forces and militias function in a tense relationship.
The Lebanese Army depends on international support, particularly from United States (training and armament), France (logistical support) and Saudi Arabia (financial aid, though recently limited due to Hezbollah’s actions). In addition to states, the UN also plays a role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Key Partners of Lebanon
USA
Military cooperation with the U.S. includes supplying military equipment, training Lebanese Armed Forces and assisting in counterterrorism efforts against groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. The United States is one of Lebanon’s key military allies.
U.S. security assistance is a cornerstone of its policy toward Lebanon, aiming to strengthen Lebanese sovereignty, secure state’s borders, counter internal threats and disrupt terrorist networks. Key areas of cooperation include border security, maritime security, defence institution building, arms transfers, and counterterrorism.
France
France also provides military aid, especially after crises like the 2020 Beirut explosion. France has a vested interest in Lebanon’s stability, which heavily relies on French military and political support.
On March 12, Lebanon and France signed an agreement to enhance cooperation between their armed forces. France committed to training Lebanese medical personnel, supplying medical materials and equipment and developing military clinics.
In October 2024, France pledged €100 million in support, with President Emmanuel Macron stating Lebanon needs “massive aid” due to Israeli attacks displacing over a million people.
UN (UNIFIL)
UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) aim to monitor ceasefire compliance and ensure stability along the southern border with Israel. Their presence is vital for maintaining regional balance and monitoring Hezbollah-related developments.
UNIFIL is a UN peacekeeping mission, which means its military activities are limited to self-defence and preventive actions. UNIFIL’s mandate includes:
- Monitoring the “Blue Line” (demarcation between Lebanon and Israel),
- Supporting LAF in maintaining southern Lebanon’s security,
- Ensuring civilian safety.
Non-State Armed Formations in Lebanon
In Lebanon operates several non-state military formations that significantly influence its politics and security.
In 2022, the United States provided the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with security assistance and training as well as cooperated with law enforcement agencies such as the Internal Security Forces to enhance their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations and to investigate and prosecute local cases of terrorism. Terrorist groups operating in Lebanon included U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and ISIS.
Hezbollah
Hezbollah is Lebanon’s main paramilitary force, operating as a militant, political, and social organization. Supported by Iran and Syria, it is designated a terrorist organization and is involved in conflicts beyond Lebanon, including Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
Its military development is based on cooperation with Iran and Syria, and it possesses a powerful arsenal and advanced technologies. Hezbollah maintains strong ties with local communities, especially among Shiites.
ISIS
ISIS sought to exploit Lebanon’s economic collapse to reestablish itself. Thanks to U.S. training, LAF detects and counters terrorist activities, often rooted in Palestinian refugee camps. ISIS fighters attempt to recruit Lebanese citizens and acquire weapons through refugees and vulnerable individuals.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
An Islamist paramilitary and terrorist organization. Most of the structures of PIJ are located in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Fighters are often recruited from refugee camps in southern Lebanon and trained by Syrians and Hezbollah.
Fatah al-Islam
A Sunni Islamist militant group founded in November 2006 in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. It is described as a jihadist movement inspired by Al-Qaeda.
Islamic Unification Movement (IUM)
Also known as the Islamic Unity Movement, it is a Lebanese Sunni Muslim political party. It has played an active role in Lebanon’s domestic politics since the Lebanese Civil War in the 1980s. The militia, numbering around 1,000 members and referred to as “Tawheed,” was established in 1982 and trained by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Initially, it received light weapons from the stockpiles of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) or purchased them on the black market. After the withdrawal of Palestinian factions, the IUM militia was able to develop mechanized armed forces.
Osbat al-Ansar
A Sunni fundamentalist group founded in the early 1990s, based in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. It follows Salafist Islam and seeks to overthrow Lebanon’s secular government. It received weapons and supplies from Lebanese internal security forces and militias linked to the Siniora government.
Kataeb Regulatory Forces
Part of the Lebanese Christian Kataeb Party from 1961 to 1977. The Kataeb militia, active during the early years of the civil war, was a precursor to the Lebanese Forces.
Amal Movement
A Shiite political and paramilitary group originally founded to defend the rights of Lebanon’s Shiite population. Although politically integrated into Lebanon’s system, its military wing has historically operated outside of state control.
Lebanese Forces (LF)
Originally a Christian militia during the Lebanese Civil War, the Lebanese Forces are now a political party but maintain a strong military and paramilitary presence in certain Christian communities.
Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP)
A political party with paramilitary capabilities, historically active in Lebanon – especially in the southern and eastern regions – a controversial ideology advocating for the establishment of a Greater Syria.
Sunni Militias in Lebanon
Smaller Sunni militias and Islamist groups, such as Fatah al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, have been present in Lebanon, particularly in the northern regions and Palestinian refugee camps.
Shiite Militias Linked to Iran
In addition to Hezbollah, there are smaller Shiite militia groups connected to Iran’s regional influence, sometimes operating in parallel with Hezbollah.
Summary
Lebanon’s security structure is marked by deep instability due to the parallel existence of state forces and numerous informal armed formations. Despite substantial support from international partners like the United States and France, the Lebanese Armed Forces have limited capacity to enforce full territorial control.
The lack of a unified command system, weak state crisis management capabilities, and the activity of well-organised non-state armed groups pose a persistent challenge to Lebanon’s stability. Sustaining external support, expanding professional defence capabilities, and reducing the role of non-state actors will be crucial for strengthening sovereignty and improving national security in the long term – though this will take time. The current, seemingly stable government may be able to take the first step toward developing the army.