Lebanon’s military chief on Thursday appealed to the international community to provide support for the army, warning that its “collapse” will fuel chaos and insecurity as Lebanon grapples with its worst economic and financial crisis.
General Joseph Aoun told representatives of major powers at a French-sponsored conference to secure assistance for the army that the military needs the international community’s urgent support to maintain its cohesiveness and keep carrying out its duties.
The crisis, which the World Bank has called one of the world’s most severe since the 1850s, has plunged over half the country’s population into poverty, with the national currency losing over 90 per cent of its value since late 2019.
“Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis and the lack of solutions in the near future has become evident,” General Aoun said, cautioning that if the army were to disintegrate, Lebanon, as an entity, would also collapse and “chaos will spread”.
The economic crisis, which has been further accentuated by political paralysis, has eroded the army’s personnel purchasing power and weighed heavily on morale.
“The deteriorating economic and financial situation in Lebanon will inevitably lead to the collapse of institutions, including the military, and therefore the entire country’s security will be exposed," General Aoun warned. “It is therefore important to support soldiers on the individual level…in addition to supporting the institution as a whole."
Soldiers who earn on average 1.2 million pounds a month - now the equivalent of around $80 - are struggling to make ends meet, General Aoun warned earlier this year.
The army said last year it had scrapped meat from the meals it offers to on-duty soldiers over rising food prices.
French Defence Minister Florence Parly said the conference was aimed at empowering the army to maintain stability and security.
The economic crisis’ heavy toll on the country’s armed forces prompted General Aoun to criticise the country’s political class earlier this year in rare remarks by a sitting military official.
“Where are we are heading? What are your plans?” he asked politicians in March as demonstrators blocked roads and burned tyres across the country to protest against a record plunge in the Lebanese pound.
The army chief has since sought to rally Lebanon’s traditional allies, led by the US and France, to provide support for the army. His latest endeavour featured a visit to France where he met with President Emanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, days before Paris announced the conference in support of the military.
Mr Macron recently said he was working with international partners to create a financial path to ensure important public services can continue to operate in Lebanon despite the crisis.
The crisis has led to disruptions in vital infrastructure services with power blackouts, water shortages and internet outages increasing in frequency in recent weeks as the government struggles to secure fuel imports to power up electricity plants.
Dwindling foreign currency reserves have also led to acute shortages in fuel supplies for private generators that make up for state power rationing, while hospitals have been running low on medical supplies and equipment.
Despite deepening economic woes, Lebanon remains without a fully functioning cabinet since last August’s massive explosion at Beirut port. The blast killed over 200 people and destroyed thousands of properties across the capital further compounding the economic crisis.
Nine months later, the country’s political leaders remain at loggerheads over the upcoming government’s makeup and reform agenda.
The political deadlock prompted French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian to warn Lebanese officials during a visit to Beirut last month that his government was preparing sanctions on officials they blame for obstructing the formation of a new Cabinet.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
LEADERBOARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
SPEC%20SHEET
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FIXTURES
Saturday
5.30pm: Shabab Al Ahli v Al Wahda
5.30pm: Khorfakkan v Baniyas
8.15pm: Hatta v Ajman
8.15pm: Sharjah v Al Ain
Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
5.30pm: Fujairah v Al Dhafra
8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
