(JNS) As Western nations led by the United States and including the Netherlands, France, Germany and Britain explore initiatives to train and equip the Lebanese Armed Forces, Israeli observers are warning that providing weapons and tactical instruction will not be enough to enable the LAF to overcome Hezbollah.
The international effort aims to transform the Lebanese military into a force capable of taking sovereign control of the country and dismantling Hezbollah’s remaining terror infrastructure, while being able to stand up to terror operatives.
However, analysts argue that the success of this monumental task hinges not just on military hardware, but also on the political courage of the Lebanese government, the sectarian loyalty of the rank-and-file soldiers, and the willingness of the LAF to engage with Hezbollah operatives.
More than arms and training
Lt. Col. (res.) Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv and former deputy national security adviser for foreign policy, said that international backing is crucial, but it must address the deep-rooted systemic issues within the...
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