Military Reform: Taif Accord
Implementations
Military Reform – 1989
Lebanon had a 42,000 strong armed force factionalized along sectarian lines and of which Gen. Michel Aoun commanded about 20,000 — mainly Christian troops. Of the remaining 22,000 soldiers in the army, most were Muslims. General Aoun was interim military government and was fired by president Elias Hrawi immediately after his election in the special session of the assembly on 25 November 1989.[fn]”Lebanon’s New President Fires Interim Military Government,” Xinhua General News Service, November 25, 1989; for different perspectives see other other sources; for example Robert Rabil, Embattled Neighbors: Syria, Israel, and Lebanon (Lynne Rienner, 2003).[/efn_note] On 28 November 1989, the government appointed Adm. Emile Lahoud as the country’s chief of armed force replacing Gen. Aoun.[fn]”Lebanon’s Cabinet Appoints New Army Commander,” Xinhua General News Service, November 28, 1989.[/efn_note] These initiatives were taken in an effort to strengthen the armed force of Lebanon. But, the Lebanese army was yet to be redeployed, which is part of the program to secure territory.
Military Reform – 1990
Lebanon invited the Syrian troops to help oust rebel Gen. Aoun in a bid to strengthen the armed force of Lebanon. In doing so, the president told Israel and the United States in confidence that “a Syrian assault involving warplanes and tank and infantry units would not be opposed or obstructed.”1 The rebel Gen. Michel Aoun was defeated and on 13 October 1990 and he took refuge in the French embassy.2 As the situation improved, the Lebanese army ordered all military personnel who had left their posts to rejoin these posts no later than the evening of October 19 or face disciplinary proceedings.3
In 21 December 1990, rival Lebanese Shiite Amal and Hezbollah issued a joint statement after their meeting that they had agreed to facilitate the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout south Lebanon and the west Bekaa area.4
- “U.S. Agreed Not to Block Move By Syria on Aoun, Lebanon Says,” Washington Post, October 16, 1990 (First Section, Page A16).
- “Profile of Internal Displacement: Lebanon,” Global IDP Database, 2001, accessed April 4, 2011, http://www.idpproject.org, 17.
- “Lebanon in brief; Army orders all personnel to rejoin their units,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 18, 1990.
- “Shiite Malitias Agree to Facilitate Deployment Of Lebanese Army in South Lebanon,” Xinhua General News Service, December 22, 1990.
Military Reform – 1991
In order to strengthen the armed forcesÕ control over territory, the Lebanese government ordered the deployment of the army in south Lebanon. As of 7 February 1991, as many as 2,000 Lebanese troops were deployed in south Lebanon and Bekaa area according to army commander general Emile Lahoud.5
On 13 April 1991, it was reported that the Lebanese Forces, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party wanted to assimilate into the Lebanese state establishments a total of more than 36,000 Lebanese military and civilian militia members. The newspapers note that the Lebanese Forces (Christian militia) have submitted a list of 18,500 members, the Amal Movement 10,200 members and the PSP 8,500 members. The government has officially proposed the assimilation of 16,000 members in the state’s institutions, equally divided between Muslims and Christians.6
As of 2 July 1991, the Lebanese army completed its redeployment in south Lebanon and forced the PLO militias to flee to refugee camps. More than 10,000 armed personnel were deployed.7 It was reported that the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set up a joint committee on December 24, 1991, to consider replacing the UN force in a region near the Israeli buffer zone in south Lebanon.8
- “Lebanese Army Deploment in South Lebanon, Bekaa Completed,” Xinhua General News Service, February 7, 1991.
- “Lebanon in brief; Three militias announce size of forces,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, April 16, 1991.
- “Lebanese Army Completes Deployment in South Lebanon,” Agence France Presse, July 2, 1991.
- “Army To Replace UNIFIL Troops in South Lebanon Villages,” Agence France Presse, December 24, 1991.
Military Reform – 1992
The Lebanese army continued to strengthen its position throughout the country. The army was in high alert in south Lebanon due to Israeli maneuver. No further information available.
Military Reform – 1993
It was reported that the Lebanese government was taking “steps to deploy its army in areas controlled by the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) north of the Israeli-held security zone along the southern border.”9 But the situation remained tense in south Lebanon as the Israeli Army reinforced positions in southern Lebanon.
Military Reform – 1994
Following 17 years of civil war that split the national defense into rival factions, General Emile Lahoud said that the army had been fully rebuilt, unified and disciplined to be the “most effective defence force Lebanon had.” It was reported that “[B]efore the civil war, the army’s strength was estimated at 20,000-25,000. Thousands of its troops defected to various confessional militias when the war began in 1975, reducing its strength to about 15,000. Its current strength is around 50,000 and is expected to rise to 55,000-60,000 next year with conscription.”10 The rebuilding and reorganization of the armed force suggests some important achievement in strengthening the armed force capable of protecting its border.
Military Reform – 1995
The Lebanese army continued to strengthen its position throughout the country. The president was to have Lebanese army patrolling the border with Israel once the peace is established.11 No further information available.
- “Lebanon wants its army to assume control along Israeli border,” Agence France Presse, December 29, 1995.
Military Reform – 1996
In April 1996, Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Emile Lahoud acknowledged that the Lebanese army is weak in means and capability compared to that of Israeli armed force and therefore was not ready to defend its border.12
Military Reform – 1997
No further information available except that the Lebanese armed force engaged in fighting with the Israeli armed force in southern Lebanon amidst ongoing debate on Israeli pullout from Lebanon.
1998: Substantial achievement made in terms of strengthening the armed force of Lebanon. According to a news report, the Lebanese army was made up of 65,000 servicemen and women. It has 12 brigades, including five currently deployed in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley along the Israeli occupied border zone. As of 1998, the army received 10% of the 4.9 billion dollar state budget. It was said that the army had a capacity of promptly deploying at least 20,000 forces when Israel withdrew from the area.13 But, by the end of the year, Israel ruled out the possibility of withdrawal from Lebanon.
1999: No further information available except that the Lebanese armed force engaged in fighting with Israeli backed militias in southern Lebanon. The armed force remained in high alert amidst the ongoing debate of the Israeli pullout from Lebanon.
2000: Even if the armed forces have been significantly transformed since 1989 and developed an image of national reconciliation with no sectarian loyalties, it is still struggling to maintain control over territory as foreign-backed militias remained in the country. The South Lebanon Army (SLA) disintegrated in May 2000 following the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.