US Military Assistance for Lebanon's War on Terrorism

By David Schenker

Earlier this week, after days of fighting between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Al Qaida affiliate Fatah al Islam, the Government of Lebanon formally requested emergency military assistance from Washington. According to Lebanese officials, Beirut’s request entailed a specific list of items—both equipment and ammunition—for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

The aid was required because in the course of fighting, the LAF expended an estimated 10% of its ammunition stocks. Assistance was also needed because in some ways the LAF have been outgunned; for example, Fatah al Islam fighters are said to be employing night vision goggles in battle, a technology presently not available for sale to Lebanon via US Foreign Military Sales (FMS). (The Department of Defense may eventually provide this equipment to the LAF under its Section 1206 Security Assistance Program, which allows DOD to provide assistance to foreign militaries undertaking counterterrorism operations.)

Not surprisingly, the White House was highly sympathetic to Beirut’s request, and agreed to urgently dispatch several military cargo flights to Lebanon.

It is unclear how Beirut will fund this purchase. Months ago, the Bush Administration requested some $280 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to Lebanon as part of the 2007 Emergency Supplemental budget. But this request remains tied up before Congress with the pending Iraq funds.

Given the urgent nature of the request, it seems likely that Lebanon will fund this equipment via an AQSA—an Acquisition Cross Servicing Agreement—whereby the Government of Lebanon has up to one year to repay the US in kind or with cash. Using the AQSA mechanism, the US can move goods to Lebanon in-theater (i.e., from the Middle East). So by the time this article is posted, US military materiel for Lebanon’s fight against terrorism will likely already be en route.

Additionally, Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa confirmed this week that several Arab states are donating military materiel to the LAF.

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