US ready to help the Lebanese army, report

Following his meeting with Lebanese army commander General Jean Kahwaji , Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said on Thursday that the US “is ready to improve the skills of the Lebanese army in the fields of training, arming and logistics,” according to National News Agency. (more…)

Army day: Suleiman reiterates Lebanon’s commitment to 1701

On Monday August 1 which marks Lebanon’s 66th Army Day, President Michel Suleiman delivered a speech in which he said that Lebanon will “actively” work to demarcate the country’s maritime borders. He also said that Lebanon will hold on to its right to restore all its occupied territories “by all possible and legitimate means.” (more…)

Siniora: Maintaining support for the army is necessary

Former Lebanese Prime Minister and current leader of the Future Movement MP Fouad Siniora concluded his meetings in Washington by meeting a number of key U.S. officials: (more…)

LAF: The army is more united than ever

The army General command stressed on Friday that the army is is more united than ever.

“The army has managed to maintain the security at the height of political division in previous years and it is now more united than ever,” the army stressed in a statement. (more…)

Baroud: The Lebanese army is a ‘red line’

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on Sunday said a demand for a weapons-free Beirut is not a push-button issue, stressing that the Lebanese army is a red line.

“The government must take measures. The citizens want answers and ask ‘where is State authority?’ It cannot stand by and watch what happened,” Baroud said in reference to Tuesday’s bloody street battles in Borj Abi Haidar. (more…)

Analysis: U.S. weighs tough choice over aid for Lebanon

The State Department has strongly defended the military aid to Lebanon, saying that withdrawing the money could create a dangerous vacuum.

Jumblatt calls for revival of compulsory military service

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt urged the government to give early retirement incentives to veteran officers in order to rebuild a youthful army.

He said such a step could be accompanied by a decision to bring back compulsory military service, (more…)

Defense minister establishes Army fund

Defense Minister Elias Murr announced Saturday the establishment of a fund and bank account at Lebanon’s Central Bank to support the armament of the Lebanese army. Murr and MP Michel Murr made a LBP 1 billion donation for the fund. (more…)

Key terrorist leader killed by Lebanese Army

Lebanese troops on Saturday killed two Islamic militants including a head of the al-Qaida-inspired Fatah al-Islam which fought the army three years ago, a military spokesman said.

“Abdul Rahman Awadh, one of the key leaders of Fatah al-Islam,” was killed along with another militant known as Abu Bakr during clashes in the eastern Bekaa Valley region, the spokesman said. (more…)

Berri/ Jumblatt: Spies don’t belong to any single sect

Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri called for punishing all Lebanese who have collaborated with the Israeli Mossad and urged the judiciary to assume its duties in this regard.

“As long as the issue of spy networks has reached the point of threatening Lebanon, all spies should be punished,” (more…)