US Supports Hezbollah Via Lebanese Army
As of 2024, the U.S. continues to provide significant financial support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). This includes a recently announced $72 million aid package aimed at covering wages for the army and internal security forces. This assistance is part of a broader strategy by the U.S. to support the Lebanese military amid Lebanon's ongoing economic and political crises.
Historically, U.S. military aid to Lebanon has been a key component of its foreign policy in the region, with the intention of strengthening the LAF to counterbalance groups like Hezbollah. Over the years, this aid has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars annually, including funding for equipment, training, and other forms of military support.
The continued financial aid is crucial for Lebanon's stability, especially given the country’s severe economic challenges and the broader geopolitical situation in the Middle East [oai_citation:3,US reroutes $72 million in aid to Lebanon to pay wages for army, police | The Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-reroutes-72-million-in-aid-to-lebanon-to-pay-wages-for-army-police/) [oai_citation:2,Why is the US increasing aid to the Lebanese army? | Responsible Statecraft](https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2021/06/07/why-is-the-us-increasing-aid-to-the-lebanese-army/) [oai_citation:1,US aid to the Lebanese Army continues amid political stalemate - Lebanon News](https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/news-bulletin-reports/725161/us-aid-to-the-lebanese-army-continues-amid-political-stalemate/en).
According to the Alma Center in Israel, “The Lebanese Army cannot (and may not want to) serve as Hezbollah’s blocking and balancing force. The thousands of soldiers stationed south of the Litani River have no impact on Hezbollah and cannot stop or impede the terrorist organization’s activities. A sizable proportion of its soldiers support Hezbollah. While the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany provide financial, military, and logistical assistance to the Lebanese army, Shiite demographics increase the possibility of it becoming a Hezbollah proxy. According to our assessment, Assuming the current trend continues, Hezbollah will eventually acquire complete control of the Lebanon army.”
