By Hala Abbas*
BEIRUT. Lebanon has long wrestled with political, economic, and social instability, wounds that trace back to its 1975–1990 civil war.
Since 2019, however, the country has faced an extraordinary convergence of crises: a severe financial collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating Beirut Port explosion, and, most recently, the eruption of war following the events of October 7, 2023.
This latest conflict brought widespread destruction, displaced over a million people, and triggered one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in modern history.
In this fragile and volatile context, reinforcing the State’s authority became more urgent than ever, particularly in areas where non-state actors continued to challenge institutional legitimacy.
Extending sovereign control requires the Government of Lebanon to rely on its own legitimate armed forces, primarily the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Institutions (ISF).
It is precisely in response to this critical moment that the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon was established.
Chaired and led by Italy, the MTC4L emerged as a coordinated multilateral initiative to reinforce Lebanon’s security institutions.
It operates in accordance with UNSCR 1701 and its subsequent resolutions, in collaboration with UNIFIL, UNSCOL and the Five-Member Committee (Mechanism) chaired by the United States.
The MTC4L brings together seven Core Members and thirteen Associated Members.
Structured across strategic, operational, and tactical levels, the MTC4L is anchored in two synergistic pillars.
The first is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of the LAF and supporting their deployment in the South Litani Sector.
The second pillar focuses on supporting both the LAF and the Lebanese population through coordinated humanitarian assistance, with particular emphasis on facilitating the safe return of internally displaced persons to their places of origin.
Tasked with responsibilities ranging from counterterrorism to civil unrest, far beyond conventional military roles, the LAF have operated under intense pressure in complex environments, earning public trust and standing as a rare symbol of national unity.
The Forging Hand: Building to Secure and Sustain
Ensuring the effective deployment of 10,000 troops across the SLS has become a top priority for both national leadership and international partners. To this end, the MTC4L was established with the strategic goal to support the capacity-building of the LAF and enable their deployment in the SLS.
The lines of effort focus on strengthening the LAF’s operational readiness through a comprehensive roadmap that encompasses recruitment, training (basic, advanced, and train-the- trainer), as well as equipping.
These actions are carried out in close collaboration with the LAF and ISF, while fostering military engagement with all stakeholders to ensure alignment with regional and international efforts.
Expanding the LAF’s presence, alongside UNIFIL’s continued posture, aims to reinforce LAF’s credibility as a reliable force for national stability and security.
Forward Command Post
The Saadiyat Operational Hub, established as a Forward Command Post, stands as a flagship for coordinated international support. Its creation reflects a deliberate and strategically calibrated operational decision. Situated along a key transit route, the hub facilitates the seamless movement of vehicle, personnel, equipment and material while minimizing disruption to civilian infrastructure and nearby populations.
Combined Resources and Expertise
Under the leadership of the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon, a robust and synchronized multinational effort is supporting the operational capabilities and institutional resilience of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Through long-term cooperation, MTC4L’s members and associated members have launched a wide array of complementary initiatives, collectively strengthening Lebanon’s defense posture across land, sea, and institutional domains.
A major milestone came in January 2025 with the activation of two operational training hubs in Deir Aamar and Saadiyat.
By May 2025, 2,765 newly trained soldiers had graduated from the Aaraman Training Institute in Deir Aamar, marking a critical achievement aligned with the ceasefire agreement and UNSCR 1701.
The high-tempo training surge began on January 2, 2025, under the direction of the LAF Training Commander and with the support of Italian military advisors through the MTC4L.
The program specifically targeted new recruits aged 18 to 22 from both northern and southern Lebanon, significantly contributing to force generation.
Driving forward long-term sustainability, MTC4L launched train-the-trainer programs within the 8th LAF Brigade. Focused on junior leadership, these mentoring cycles are consolidating internal instructional capacity and enabling autonomous training continuity.
Maritime integration has been another focus, with specialized mentoring and training delivered to the LAF-Navy at the Naval Equipment and Training Centre in Jounieh.
This included tailored on boarding for integration into UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force.
Meanwhile, tactical training has been conducted focusing on equipping LAF companies while maintenance courses have been delivered to sustain the operational readiness of Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Specialized trainings targeting high-impact areas focused on precision engagement, situational awareness, and combat medical response.
Border security remains a top priority, with the Operators Course delivered along the eastern frontier, aiming to train up to 500 personnel in skills indispensable for securing entry points and strengthening border control.
Support to Special Operations Forces has addressed search-and-breach operations, further boosting elite unit readiness. At the same time, assistance continues to reinforce Lebanon’s Integrated Border Management framework, a fundamental layer in national defense and regional coordination.
Long-term institutional growth remains a central objective, pursued through leadership and education-focused initiatives covering operational planning, the Law of Armed Conflict, public affairs, mountain warfare, materials management, and language skills.
Finally, MTC4L has also expanded its reach to internal security institutions. A recent Military Combat Methodology course for the Internal Security Forces combined ballistic protection, combat techniques, and team-based drills, improving both proficiency and confidence.
The General Security Directorate received close-quarters combat training featuring dynamic live-fire scenarios and military first responder protocols.
The Reaching Hand: Extending Care and Bringing Relief
Since 2019, Lebanon’s deepening economic crisis intensified by escalating humanitarian challenges, has placed key state institutions, including the LAF, under severe strain. As the national currency lost over 98% of its value, LAF personnel saw their salaries drastically reduced, forcing many to take on secondary jobs to support their families. In these unprecedented challenges, the resilience of the LAF cannot be taken for granted, especially amid prolonged deployments and sustained economic hardship.
From June 2024 to June 2025, the unified efforts of the MTC4L’s members and associated members have driven a powerful and coordinated response to Lebanon’s worsening security and humanitarian challenges.
Driven by a shared commitment to regional stability, these partners have provided vital support to the LAF and their families, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable communities nationwide. Efforts were particularly concentrated in the South Litani Sector, given its geopolitical significance in the midst of ongoing developments.
The overwhelmingly positive reception underlined the relevance of this integrated approach.
Life Support and Sustainment- Critical Assets
Through a sustained engagement, contributing nations delivered wide-ranging humanitarian aid to bolster Lebanon’s stability.
Aid packages included food, medicines, hygiene kits, water, clothing, and pediatric nutritional supplements. In addition to core necessities, assistance extended to mobility aids for children with motor disabilities, sports kits, blankets, educational materials and festive gifts restoring dignity, joy and a sense of normalcy to families in crisis.
This outreached helped reinforce the social fabric during periods of hardship.
Medical assistance ranged from essential pharmaceuticals to advanced diagnostic and electro- medical equipment, including mobile radiography systems for ICUs and emergency rooms, as well as oxygen therapy devices offering vital sustenance to both military and civilian healthcare services. Fuel supplies, including an oil tanker, further enabled operational continuity.
Demining efforts encompassed multiple projects implemented through the Mine Action Center (MAC), with aid from UND Pand GICHD, contributing to the digitization of the Lebanese Mine Action Center.
Concurrently, financial support for LAF and ISF salary payments has helped preserve institutional effectiveness despite unrelenting economic pressure.
Equipment And Logistics Initiatives
Empowering the Lebanese Armed Forces with cutting-edge equipment and enhanced mobility has boosted their operational effectiveness.
Key contributions ranged from combat and service uniforms, personal equipment and PPE, and specialized EOD equipment to body armor, medical backpacks, and communication gear.
A comprehensive fleet of vehicles enhanced mobility and logistics support, featuring ambulances, armored vehicles, tankers, cargo vans, EOD vehicles, HEMTTs, wrecker trucks, and engineer vehicles, along with dedicated spare parts.
Complementary assets like small arms repair parts, EOD kits, sniper rifles, night vision devices, and laser designators further elevated capabilities. Essential components such as rotary parts, generators, and maintenance tools were also delivered to ensure the sustainability and readiness of critical systems in high-demand environments.
Support extended to the educational and healthcare structure of the Aaraman Training Institute through the provision of classroom furniture, multimedia projectors, uninterruptible power supply units, and medical supplies.
Infrastructure
To facilitate frontline deployments, field-deployable modular units were extended to LAF brigades along the Blue Line, offering essential shelter under demanding operational conditions.
In parallel, the logistics brigade’s shelving systems underwent comprehensive refurbishment to optimize supply storage. C4ISR systems were deployed to improve situational awareness and command coordination.
Large-scale infrastructure development played a pivotal role in enhancing force projection and long-term resilience.
Partner nations invested in prefabricated shelters and the construction of fully equipped Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in the SLS and along the Eastern Border, now serving as staging grounds for operations in high-risk areas.
Demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability and stability, renewable energy installations, including solar panels, water systems, and rehabilitated power infrastructure were implemented across vulnerable areas, particularly in the SLS.
Empowering Future Generations
Rooted in grassroots endeavors, MTC4L invests in youth and vulnerable populations to foster resilient communities that form the backbone of Lebanon’s national stability and act as vital catalysts propelling the country toward lasting peace.
Designed to reach all segments of society, MTC4L conducted focused awareness sessions on anti-bullying, violence prevention, and first aid, equipping 200 students aged 12 to 30, from diverse religious backgrounds, with the skills needed to identify, prevent, and confront bullying and aggression.
Beyond building individual confidence, these community-based sessions cultivated responsiveness and mutual respect laying the groundwork for a more tenacious society.
Two Hands, One Future: The Power of the Multiplying Touch
Where seeds are sown, a harvest must follow.
The MTC4L weaves strength into Lebanon’s fabric, stitching hope, resilience, and healing across every scarred landscape.
With steady hands and a shared vision, it nurtures the seeds of peace destined to bloom into lasting stability, creating a ripple effect that expands Lebanon’s resilience far beyond its beginnings, transforming modest efforts into powerful, far-reaching change.
Yes, international aid matters deeply. It offers the Lebanese people a crucial boost forward.
This support complements their unshakable determination as they defy every challenge thrown their way. Their resilience is not just survival; it embodies a fierce love for their homeland, an unbreakable bond with their history, and an unyielding faith in rebirth.
But who can erase the scars of devastation? Who restores the lost voices, the shattered lives? Who silences the haunting echoes of trauma and uncertainty? Who can guarantee that a morning goodbye won’t become a final farewell?
Entire communities lie in ruins. Generations of memories, homes, heritage, life itself, vanished in a heartbeat, leaving only echoes of loss and the heavy burden of grief.
Yet beneath the devastation, a quiet spirit of renewal awakens.
And yet, Lebanon endures.
*Interpreter – Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L)
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