Lebanese Army Faces Challenge of Protecting Stability

Lebanese Army soldiers take part in a parade marking the 72nd Army Day, at a military academy in Fayadyeh, near Beirut, August 1, 2017. (Reuters/ Aziz Taher)
Lebanese Army soldiers take part in a parade marking the 72nd Army Day, at a military academy in Fayadyeh, near Beirut, August 1, 2017. (Reuters/ Aziz Taher)
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Lebanese Army Faces Challenge of Protecting Stability

Lebanese Army soldiers take part in a parade marking the 72nd Army Day, at a military academy in Fayadyeh, near Beirut, August 1, 2017. (Reuters/ Aziz Taher)
Lebanese Army soldiers take part in a parade marking the 72nd Army Day, at a military academy in Fayadyeh, near Beirut, August 1, 2017. (Reuters/ Aziz Taher)

Lebanon celebrates this first of August the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of its army. This year’s celebration has a special meaning as it coincides with major achievements by the army in the fight against terrorism and the ousting of terrorist groups from the eastern Lebanese borders.

The Lebanese Army has proved its combat effectiveness, starting with the battle against Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon in 2007, leading to the fierce battle against ISIS which took place in Arsal on the eastern borders in August last year.

In the last three years, the army has recorded a series of achievements that have raised the interest of major international powers, which are now seeking to strengthen the Lebanese military institutions by providing it with training, arms and information capabilities.

The qualitative operations carried out by the army in recent years are the result of the bulk of military, security and intelligence work that the organization has achieved.

A military source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the most significant achievement under the leadership of General Joseph Aoun was in the battle of “Fajr al-Jouroud” in Arsal, in addition to stopping the flow of car bombs inside the country and easing the security pressure on Lebanon.

The sources emphasized that the army’s fast victory in Arsal has allowed it to focus its efforts on the protection of internal security, by chasing terrorist networks and uncovering dormant cells in successful preemptive operations.

Although the achievements of the army are a source of confidence for the Lebanese, the army has many challenges ahead, according to its leader General Joseph Aoun.

The military sources noted that among important challenges facing the army were security concerns and the protection of the borders, to prevent the risk of the infiltration of armed militants into Lebanon.

The army is also facing the threat of any Israeli attack on Lebanon’s southern border, and chasing espionage networks operating for Israel.

The director of the Middle East Institute for Strategic Affairs, Dr. Sami Nader, said that the army “has become the last resort for the Lebanese and is constantly present to protect national sovereignty, and thus lacks a single political decision to extend its absolute authority over the entire Lebanese territory.”

Since 2006, Lebanon has been trying to develop a defense strategy that would give the state a decision on war and peace, and prevent any weapons from being left outside the legitimacy. However, all dialogues have so far failed because Hezbollah refuses to handover its weapons.



Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
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Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 

As the Houthi threat to international shipping grows ever more serious - most recently with the sinking of two Greek vessels, killing three sailors and leaving twelve missing - there has been little substantial reaction from major world powers. The United States, Germany’s foreign minister, and the UN envoy to Yemen were among the few to voice concern and call for de-escalation.

While Houthi attacks intensify across the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, insurance premiums for commercial ships in these waters have surged to as much as 1% of a vessel’s value, according to leading global insurers. This underscores the scale of the risk and the declining confidence in protecting this vital maritime corridor.

The two assaults targeted the cargo ships Magic Seas and True Confidence between Sunday and Tuesday last week. According to the EU naval mission Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea navigation, the attacks killed at least three sailors, wounded others, and left a dozen unaccounted for.

The strike on the Liberian-flagged Greek-operated True Confidence marked a dangerous escalation. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they used an explosive-laden drone boat and six ballistic and cruise missiles. They alleged the ship was heading to Israel’s port of Eilat, though independent verification was lacking.

Despite the scale of the violence, most global capitals limited their responses to brief statements. Only the US ambassador to the UN issued a pointed condemnation, along with remarks from a State Department spokesperson and a statement by UN envoy Hans Grundberg.

The US denounced the attacks as “terrorist and unjustified,” describing them as evidence of the “ongoing threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthis to regional maritime security and commerce.” The US ambassador stressed Washington’s commitment to denying the Houthis resources to fund such operations and called on the UN Security Council to remove obstacles blocking its expert monitoring teams in Yemen.

The State Department likewise condemned the attacks as a threat to the freedom of navigation and economic stability. “We will continue to take necessary steps to protect commercial shipping,” the statement warned, urging the broader international community to condemn the Houthis’ actions.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Iran must use its influence to halt Houthi attacks. Speaking in Vienna alongside his Israeli and Austrian counterparts, he declared: “We strongly condemn these attacks and expect Iran to act to stop them.”

UN envoy Grundberg expressed deep concern about the sinking of True Confidence, warning of the humanitarian and environmental consequences of such operations, which violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2722. He urged the Houthis to provide sustainable guarantees to end attacks and build on prior understandings with the United States.

Oman had brokered a limited agreement last May under which the Houthis pledged to stop targeting American ships in return for a suspension of broad US-led military action - though the deal excluded Israel.

A Dangerous Precedent

Yemeni officials say the tepid reactions from much of the world send the Houthis the wrong message, reinforcing their sense of impunity. On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted in his weekly address about sinking the vessels, calling it a “clear lesson” to any shipping company doing business with Israel.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 150 attacks, disrupting global trade flows through the Red Sea. Their operations have sunk British and Greek ships and damaged many more, including hijacking the Galaxy Leader and holding its crew for over a year.