●US security assistance to the army and ISF: over $2.5 billion since 2006

After the July 2006 war Washington launched an arming and training programme for the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces that exceeded 2.5 billion dollars by 2022 according to the State Department, with American trainers and special forces present at the Hamat air base. Washington says the aim is to build the state against Hezbollah, and critics hold that it ties the military institution to American conditions; 105 million of it was frozen in November 2019, and the army command affirms that Hamat is under its authority.

Note: Article 65 of the constitution provides that the council of ministers sets the state's general policy in every field, including defence. Conditional military aid makes the army's armament, doctrine and choices hostage to the donor's approval, as 105 million was frozen in 2019 for political reasons, and prevents it from obtaining weapons that would change the balance of power with Israel. Thus the state remains unable to monopolise defence, and weapons outside it are entrenched.