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List of equipment of the Lebanese Armed Forces

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Lebanese Armed Forces equipment still contains significant amounts of old weaponry, but it has embarked on some major improvements recently. The M113, which is commonly found with every regiment and brigade, is considered to be the major element of the ground forces. A collection of Western and Soviet made arms and equipment exists ranging from rifles to tanks such as the T-54/55. However, the Lebanese army is still trying to rearm and modernize itself through new aids and purchases from different countries such as the United States, Belgium, Russia, and The Netherlands.

Rearming and modernization

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The LAF has been attempting to modernize and equip itself since 2005. Due to the budget limits, and instead of spawning an indigenous arms industry the LAF is relying on donations and friendly priced equipment.

The United States has been supplying the Lebanese Armed Forces with light to medium arms since 2005, in the form of a package of more than US$1.2 billion-worth of equipment that is still being executed. Among these supplies are HMMWV, M-35/A3, Mk 19 grenade launcher, M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, TOW 2, HELLFIRE 2, AT4, and Barrett M107 .50 Cal. sniper. The US has promised to supply Lebanon with M2A2 ODS and M109A5. In addition, the US supplied Lebanon with 12 RQ-11 Raven small hand-launched UAVs, 12 M-109A3 and 183 additional M198 Howitzers from 2008 to 2016 making the total to 219,[1] and promised to deliver all water patrol boats and more utility, and attack helicopters.

On April 20, 2015, the Lebanese army took delivery of 48 MBDA Milan short-range anti-tank missiles as part of the $3 billion package donated by Saudi Arabia.

On February 19, 2016, The army chief expressed in an interview to Al-Akhbar newspaper the status of the Military aid to Lebanon and said: "There are contributions from many countries, but they remain symbolic. The US still the largest armament supplier."[citation needed] Later on the same day the Saudi Arabia press agency quoted a Saudi official, that Saudi Arabia halted the $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon.[citation needed]

Equipment

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Pistols

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Brand Origin Photos Caliber Versions Notes
Browning Hi-Power[2]  Belgium
 United States
9×19mm Parabellum Standard-issue for military and police.
Glock  Austria 9×19mm Parabellum Glock 17, Glock 18 In use with Special Forces.
Beretta 92  Italy 9×19mm Parabellum Limited use.
P-64 CZAK  Polish People's Republic 9×18mm Makarov In reserve.

Assault rifles

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Brand Origin Versions Photos Notes
M4 carbine[3][4]  United States SOPMOD Standard-issue rifle of all intervention regiments and special forces units.
M16 rifle[5][6]  United States A1, A2, A4 Standard-issue rifle. In total 70000 A4 were being received. All deliveries were scheduled to be made 2021 to replace the remaining A1 variant.
Close Quarters Battle Receiver  United States MK18 Used by the Navy Commandos to replace the MP5. Lebanese Special Units operate the CQBR.
AKM  Soviet Union Replaced by the M16 and M4. Used by reserve.
AK-74  Soviet Union AKS-74,

AKS-74U,

AK-74M

Limited usage.
FAMAS[2]  France F1 Limited usage, in use with some Special Forces squads.
Heckler & Koch G3  West Germany G3A3 The G3 is only used for cadet training.
SIG SG 540[2]  Switzerland Most were transferred to Lebanese Internal Security Forces.
Daewoo Precision Industries K2  South Korea K2 Limited usage.

Sniper rifles

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Brand Origin Versions Photos
Barrett M82  United States
M24  United States
Steyr SSG 69  Austria
QBU-88  China 144

Machine guns

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Brand Origin Versions Photos
M249  United States
MK-46  United States
M240  United States M240L PEO M240L MG Telescoping Stock Right Side
M60 machine gun  United States
M2 Browning  United States M2HB
M1919 Browning  United States M1919A4
DShK  Soviet Union DShKM
PK machine gun  Soviet Union
Rheinmetall MG 3  Germany
FN MAG  Belgium
FN Minimi  Belgium

SMGs and shotguns

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Brand Origin Type Photos
Heckler & Koch MP5  West Germany Submachine gun
OTs-02 Kiparis  Soviet Union Submachine gun
FN P90[7]  Belgium Personal defense weapon
Franchi SPAS-12  Italy Combat shotgun
Mossberg 500  United States Riot / combat shotgun

Rocket/grenade launchers

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Brand Origin Versions Photos
M203  United States
M72 LAW  United States
M141 Bunker Defeat Munition  United States
MK-153 SMAW[8]  United States
RPG-7  Soviet Union
AT4  Sweden

Vehicle mounted artillery

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Artillery Type Origin Photo
M40 Recoilless rifle (113 units)  United States

Anti-tank missiles

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Artillery Type Origin Photo
M113A2 BGM-71 TOW Missile armed tank destroyer

equipped with anti-tank guided missile BGM-71 TOW.[9]

 United States
BGM-71 TOW Anti-tank version tandem warhead TOW-2A, Mounted on HMMWV

wireless TOW, and bunker buster version BGM-71H

 United States
M712 Copperhead Laser-guided artillery shell  United States
MILAN MILAN 1
MILAN 2 is mounted on HMMWV
 France
 West Germany
HOT[10] HOT II  France
 West Germany

Anti-aircraft weapons/vehicles

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Artillery Type Origin Quantity Photo
9K32 Strela-2 Surface-to-air missile  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun  Soviet Union
ZPU-2 Anti-aircraft gun  Soviet Union
Zastava M55 3x20mm anti-aircraft guns  Yugoslavia
ZPU-4 Anti-aircraft  Soviet Union

Helmets

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Brand Origin Type Photos Notes
ECH  United States Combat helmet Standard issue helmet of the Lebanese army replaced the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops in 2018
PASGT  United States Combat helmet Former Standard issue helmet for the Lebanese army replaced by the Enhanced Combat Helmet in 2018
MICH / ACH  United States Combat helmet Used by the Lebanese Special Operations Command and some other units
Ops-Core FAST Helmet  United States Combat helmet Main users are the Lebanese Special Operations Command and the intervention regiments also seen used by conventional brigades
Modèle 1978 helmet  France Combat helmet Limited use

Body armor

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Brand Origin Type Photos Notes
Interceptor Body Armor  United States
Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System  United States
Bulletproof vest

Camouflage

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Brand Origin Type Photos Notes
MultiCam  Norway
 United Kingdom
 United States
Bulletproof vest, combat helmet, uniform Operational Camouflage Pattern based on MultiCam predecessor, Standard issued uniform for all branches replaced U.S. Woodland on 21 November 2017.
UCP  United States Marine Commandos
MARPAT desert pattern  United States Airborne regiment
MARPAT Woodland  United States Commando Regiment
Lizard Camouflage  France

Moukafaha
Black Camouflage

Marine Commandos

Optics

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Brand Origin Type Photos
EOTech  United States Holographic weapon sight
Aimpoint CompM4  United States Aimpoint
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight  United States Telescopic sight

Night vision equipment

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Brand Origin Type Photos
AN/PVS-14  United States Night-vision device
AN/PVS-7  United States Night-vision device
AN/PEQ-2  United States IR laser and illumination

Unarmored vehicles

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Model Versions Origin In service Notes Pictures
Humvee M998/M1025/M1046/M1035  United States +1500
M997 ambulance Used for medical evacuation  United States N\A Military ambulance
M113 Tracked armoured ambulance vehicle  United States 12 Ambulance version of M113. Polish M113
M54 5-ton 6x6 truck Cargo  United States
M151 MUTT A2  United States In limited use
CUCV M1008/M1009/M1010 Ambulance/M1028/M880/M882/M883/M885/M886 Ambulance  United States In limited use
M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck Cargo/transport  United States
DAF YA 4440/4442 Cargo transport  Netherlands
FMTV Humanitarian relief, troop and cargo transport  United States 100 .[11]
Land Rover Defender 90 Cargo/transport  United Kingdom
Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf" Ambulance  Austria
 West Germany
20
Volkswagen Transporter (T5) Transport  West Germany
 Germany
KamAZ-4310 Cargo transport  Soviet Union
 Russian Federation
100~
Iveco Trakker Cargo transport  Italy seen during the military parade in Beirut 2017
Iveco Daily Homeland security  Italy used by internal security forces
Toyota Land Cruiser Transport  Japan
KIA KM450 Series Cargo transport  South Korea 5+ KM451
Iveco Medium truck 4×4  Italy 26 including 1 fuel tank,1 water.
Sinotruk HOWO Multi-purpose tactical truck  China 40
Iveco 90.17 WM 4x4 4 ton truck  Italy 16
Navistar 7000-MV Military truck 5 Ton truck  United States Seen with Lebanese Army the Navistar Defense 7000-MV GTT, in November 2011.
M939 series 5-ton utility Vehicle  United States 38 In the context of the United States aid program dedicated to the Lebanese Army, the Logistic Brigade received in the port of Beirut vehicles composed of M925 and M925A1 5-Tons cargo trucks.may 5 2014
K711 6×6 cargo truck  South Korea

50

Fiat Ducato Van  Italy

Utility vehicles

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Model Versions Origin In service Notes Pictures
Polaris Ranger 500 4×4 All-terrain vehicle  United States
Polaris MRZR D2/D4 4×4  United States
Polaris RZR Fast attack vehicle  United States
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4i  Japan
K131 4×4 utility vehicle  South Korea 5+
BJ80 Light utility vehicle  China 60
KIA KM450 Series Utility vehicle  South Korea 5+

Tanks

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Model Versions Origin In service Pictures Note
M60 A3  United States 10 [12] Delivery in 2009 4 M60A3 TTS and 6 M60A3 IFCS ref. Lebanese Army magazine issue of December 2009 issue number 294.
M48 A5PI  United States 66 Delivery in 1984 of a total number of 106. Used by the 5th Infantry brigade and the 1st Armoured regiment which brings the total number to 81. As of 2024, the Lebanese army operates and maintains 66 M48A5 tanks.[13]
T-54/55 T-55A, T-54B, T-54A, T-54-3, T-54-2  Soviet Union ~40 operational, ~100 non-operational In 1988 Iraq delivered an unknown number of T-54/55s, around 50 from militias after the civil war, 30 T-55s delivered from Libya after the civil war, and 180 delivered in 1993 from Syria. These are used as support by some Infantry Brigades, but its main operators are the 2nd Armored Brigade and the 3rd Mechanized Brigade, between them operating roughly 40 T-55A/T-55B/T-55MV. The Lebanese army possesses roughly 140 in total, with most being non-operational, mainly T-54 and subsequent variants as well as T-55A tanks.

Armored personnel carriers

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Model Versions Origin In service Notes Photos
M1151  United States 259
M113 A2, A3, M577 Nagman opfor  United States 1,338 Many armed with BGM-71 TOW, ZPU and ZU-23-2; some were captured from Israeli army in 2006 Lebanon War and 1982 Lebanon War

VAB VTT  France 100 Used also by the military police
Barracuda (TM-170)  South Korea
 West Germany
10 Doosan DST
RWMIK Land Rover Protected mobility vehicle

The Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit is maintained solely as a specialist capability.

 United Kingdom 100 Used by all 4 land border regiments
RWMIK Land Rover

Armored fighting vehicles

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Model Versions Origin In service Notes Photos
Bradley Fighting Vehicle M2A2 ODS  United States 32 Used by airborne regiment al moujawkal
AIFV-B-C25  United States 16 16 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 vehicles.

Used by airborne regiment al moujawkal and commando regiment al maghawer and commandos marine Maghāwīr al Baħr

VAB Mephisto ATGM  France 35[10] Equipped with HOT II missiles

Used by anti tank regiment

Panhard AML  France 45

Artillery

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Artillery Versions Origin In service Photos
M109A3 155 mm  United States 12[14]
M198 155 mm  United States 219
M114A1 155 mm  United States 20
M101A1 105 mm  United States 15
M102 105 mm  United States 10
D-30 122 mm  Soviet Union 42
M-30 122 mm  Soviet Union –26
M-46 gun 130 mm  Soviet Union 15
2A36 Giatsint-B 152 mm  Soviet Union –6
The Lebanese Army BM-11 mounted on M35A2 truck of the 2nd Artillery Regiment 122 mm  Soviet Union 5
Grad-K ("Grad" on KamAZ-5350 chassis) 122mm multiple rocket launcher  Russia 6

The 2B26 machine is a Russian modification of the original BM-21 launcher. It was first produced in 2011.[15]

Mortar

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mortar Versions Origin In service Photos
M29 81mm medium mortar  United States
M252 81mm medium mortar  United States
M30 carriers M113 armored personnel carrier  United States
MO-120 RT 120 mm  France 24
M224 60 mm lightweight mortar (LWCMS)  United States

Other vehicles

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Artillery Versions Origin In service Photos
M88 Recovery Vehicle A1  United States 35
M88 Recovery Vehicle A2  United States 2
M578 Light Recovery Vehicle  United States 4
Caterpillar D9 D9N  United States 2
M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle A2  United States 10
Oshkosh M1070  United States 8
M915  United States
ACTL 6×6 Tactical-logistic vehicle  Italy 2+

Explosive ordnance disposal robots

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Artillery Versions Origin In service Photos
Foster-Miller TALON Tracked military robot  United States
iRobot PackBot 510 Unmanned demining vehicle  United States

Logistics and engineering equipment

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Military simulations

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  • Janus[18][19][20]
  • Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 [21]
  • TOW anti-tank simulators
  • Milan anti-tank simulators
  • VAB Mephisto simulators[22]

Recent supplies

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  • The United Kingdom donated 1.2 million euros worth of armoured vehicle parts in May 2023.[23]
  • Lebanese Army received 3 Huey 2 helicopters from the US in February 2021.[24]
  • The Lebanese Army received VAB and Hot missiles and other equipment from France on May 30, 2017.
  • Lebanon received 12 M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Jordan in March 2015 and 400 Tow 2 by June 2015.
  • Lebanon received 72 M-198 Howitzers from the United States on February 8, 2015, along with M1044 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US, as part of the aid for fighting terrorism.[25]
  • Lebanon received 120 Land Rover Defender 90s from the United Kingdom on December 10, 2013.[26]
  • Lebanon received 71 HMMWVs, M1038 Cargo/Troop Carrier, M1026 Armament Carrier with Basic Armor, M1044 Armament Carrier w/ Supplemental Armor, vehicles donated by the US on August 17, 2013.[27]
  • In August 2013 France enhanced the operational capacities of the Lebanese army by providing military equipment. The gift included bulletproof vests, optical equipment and HOT missiles for Gazelle Helicopter.[28]
  • Lebanon received 31 M1151 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US on August 17, 2012.
  • Lebanon received 24 M1151 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US on July 22, 2011.
  • Lebanon received 106 vehicles donated by the UN in Lebanon on 13 May 2011.
  • Lebanon received 30 M-198 Howitzers in January, 2010.[29] This followed an earlier supply of 41 Howitzers in 2008, and 36 Howitzers operated by the LAF since the 80s.
  • Lebanon received 16 AIFVs and 12 M-113 ambulances in early December 2009, purchased from Belgium.[30]
  • On May 22, Lebanon officially announced the delivery of the first 10 M60/A3, one M88, and several other items during a ceremony at Beirut International Airport.
  • On March 23, 2009, the LAF took delivery of 40 HMMWVs, and 9 sport utility vehicles from the US.[31]
  • On March 20, 2009, the LAF purchased 6 Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4is.[32]
  • On December 28, 2008, the US delivered 72 HMMWVs. Twelve of these were ambulances.[33]
  • During 2008, the US supplied Lebanon with 200 M35A3 and 41 M198 Howitzers.[34]
  • As of March 2008, the Netherlands had donated 100 DAF trucks to the Lebanese Army.[35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 9, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  3. ^ Christopher J. Castelli (September 2008). "Department of Defense to equip Lebanon's Special Forces with Small Arms, Vehicles" (PDF). DISAM Journal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  4. ^ Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2008". The Gun Zone. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  5. ^ "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  6. ^ McNab, Chris (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. ISBN 1-84013-476-3.
  7. ^ Thomas Smith Jr., W. (October 10, 2007). "Black-Masked Commandos Training By The Sea". National Review. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  8. ^ "Mk.153 SMAW Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b laf-digest.blogspot.com/2017/05/laf-receives-15-vab-hot-and-hundreds-of.html
  11. ^ "Security assistance enterprise delivers to Lebanese troops". Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  12. ^ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2023. ISBN 978-1-000-91073-5.
  13. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2023). The Military Balance. Routledge. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  14. ^ The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2024. ISBN 978-1-040-05115-3.
  15. ^ Боевые машины РСЗО "Град" 2Б26 на параде в Ростове-на-Дону
  16. ^ "كاسحة الألغامالجيش يتسلم كاسحة ألغام هبة من حكومة النروج". August 2005. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  17. ^ "كاسحة الألغام "Armtrac" في تجربة تدليلية". April 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  18. ^ افتتاح المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  19. ^ خبراء فرنسيون زاروا كلية فؤاد شهاب في مهمة حول المشبه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  20. ^ المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). October 2005. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  21. ^ "Cubic to Provide Small-Arms Trainers to New International Customers". Newsroom. Cubic Corporation. October 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  22. ^ office_zzam (2018-11-27). "Second batch of French VAB HOT Mephisto antitank armored vehicles deli". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  23. ^ "UK donates equipment to the Lebanese Army". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  24. ^ "Lebanon: Army receives US-donated helicopters worth $32 million | the National". 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  25. ^ "The Handover ceremony of equipment presented as a donation from the US authorities to the Lebanese Army". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  26. ^ "الجيش اللبناني يتسلّم مساعدات عسكرية بريطانية". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  27. ^ "More New Comers to the LAF". milinme.wordpress. August 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  28. ^ "La France donne des équipements à l'armée libanaise - cérémonie à la base aérienne de Beyrouth". Ambassade de France à Beyrouth. August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  29. ^ "تسلّم مدافع وأعتدة وذخائر مختلفة". Lebanese Army News. Lebanese Army. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  30. ^ "De Crem confirms the delivery of ex-Belgian AIFVs and M-113 Ambulances" (in Dutch and English). Belgian House of Representatives. January 6, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  31. ^ "U.S. Government Provides Tactical Vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Lebanon. March 25, 2009. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  32. ^ "Lebanese Army purchases Kawasaki ATVs from RYMCO". Rymco. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  33. ^ "U.S. Government Provides Humvees to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press Releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Beirut, Lebanon. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  34. ^ Garamone, Jim (December 1, 2008). "U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  35. ^ حفل تسلّم آليات عسكرية تقدمة من دولة هولندا (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. May 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.