International donors are mulling a plan to deliver cash to the Lebanese army unable to keep paying, feeding and clothing soldiers as diplomats in Beirut told The National that the situation risks national security.
Like other government institutions, the army is under severe financial stress since the start of the country’s dire economic crisis two years ago.
Even as wages have lost most of their value, soldiers are increasingly being asked to take on roles beyond the usual scope of the military, placing an additional burden on already overstretched units.
“There is a serious risk of the army disintegrating without the backing of the international community,” said one source, who - like all diplomats interviewed - asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said at a UN meeting on Tuesday that they were looking to adopt a mechanism for cash transfers to the army and security forces.
It's the first official recognition of the army request for direct salary support that is some key donors - including France - have been studying for weeks.
Morale in the army is at an all-time low. A junior soldier’s monthly salary is now worth little more than $100, while a brigadier general makes $400 a month.
Few soldiers can afford soaring transport costs to even reach their duty stations.
“It costs them more to get to work than to work,” said one source.
The exact amount the army needs is unclear. But, for donors, sending cash to the army is also controversial.
“It’s very delicate because it raises questions about the management of important sums of money,” said a diplomat.
“We have to ask ourselves, 'who can pay this, how, and how do we avoid corruption?' Injecting money into the Lebanese army is like sending money to the Lebanese government.”
The army regularly polls as Lebanon's most trusted public institution and is seen as being above the country's sectarian political infighting and working in public service.
Since mass protests started in 2019 and the situation deteriorated, most international donors have made clear assistance would go to the Lebanese people, not the state which is seen as responsible for the crisis after years of corruption and mismanagement.
With most aid to the military being donations of supplies, arms and equipment, shifting to direct cash injections will require different monitoring to ensure there's no corruption.
Some embassies also reject the idea of giving stipends for soldiers altogether, arguing it would be tantamount to admitting that Lebanon was essentially a failed state.
“For us, this is a normal state. They have a government, a budget and taxes. They should provide institutions with money,” said a European military source.
While some countries are still hesitant about cash transfers, they were prompt to respond to army chief Gen Joseph Aoun’s warning last March that his 80,000 to 85,000 soldiers were going hungry. The army scrapped meat from its meals in the summer of 2020 as inflation soared.
In recent months, countries including Jordan, Spain, Morocco and Turkey donated hundreds of tonnes of food parcels and medicines.
Germany will soon be sending 100,000 euros ($117,320) worth of medication, including over the counter drugs like ibuprofen, for military hospitals. France gave 200,000 euros ($234,650) worth of midazolam, a surgical anaesthetic.
These exceptional donations come in addition to pre-existing aid.
Some cash assistance, however, is already provided by allies and donors.
In May, Iraq flew in $2 million in cash to the army following its request to avoid the crumbling Lebanese banking sector.
The army’s biggest traditional donor is the US, which this year is transferring $59 million to reimburse for border security operations. This sum can be used at the army’s discretion.
Yet more is needed. Figures quoted by foreign embassies in Beirut show that aid disbursed until now constitutes no more than a fraction of the army’s requirements.
In July, Qatar started making regular donations of 70 tonnes of food every month, only 3.5 per cent of the 2,000 tonnes a month needed for soldiers and their families.
This is an attrition game
Aram Nerguizian,
senior advisor in civil-military relations in Arab states for the Carnegie Middle East Center
Fighting over scarce resources is increasingly worrying foreign donors, who are concerned about the operational capacity of militant groups such as ISIS in Lebanon.
Flare-ups over fuel shortages can easily turn sectarian in a country still traumatised by 15 years of civil war that ended in 1990.
“We are noticing people falling back on local identities — clans, neighbourhoods, villages,” said a source. Traditional political parties, which represent the country’s different religious communities, are losing ground and struggling to arbitrate disputes, said another.
Once again, the army has had to step in.
In late August, it deployed to Akkar where two men died in clashes over logging. Shortly after, it intervened after fighting between Christian and Muslim towns in the south over fuel shortages.
Gen Aoun warned in June that the army was the only state institution still holding the country together.
“If unmitigated, the economic and financial crises will inevitably lead to the collapse of all state institutions, including the LAF [Lebanese armed forces], the backbone of the country and the sole remaining functioning institution,” he said.
For now, the army leadership’s flexible and tolerant attitude towards personnel has allowed it to limit desertions and maintain operations.
Aram Nerguizian, senior adviser in civil-military relations in Arab states for the Carnegie Middle East Centre, told The National that as of August between 1,500 and 2,000 soldiers, or less than 2 per cent of the army, had deserted their post since the crisis began.
“They’re being told by their commanders that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and to hold out. This is an attrition game,” he said.
The European military source agreed, citing remaining incentives and lack of other well-paying jobs as a good reason to stay. “Think about it logically: if you desert, you don’t get your salary, you can’t send your family to the hospital any more, you don’t get fuel coupons and you don’t get help with school fees,” they said.
Multiple sources said the army organises rotations that allow soldiers to work two to three days a week. This both limits transport costs and allows them to hold down a second job.
Only 50 to 60 per cent of the force is on duty on any given day, according to one source.
But Mr Nerguizian said that if soldiers don't get enough financial aid, then the military risks being sucked into Lebanon's political clientelist networks and could start either racketeering or selling its services.
“That’s a golden opportunity for the establishment and cartels to say, hey come make some quick money on the side,” he said.
“It’s not happening yet, but it’s a risk.”
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Company%20Profile
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More coverage from the Future Forum
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Naga
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Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
The%C2%A0specs%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
