Active 1950 - present Type Navy Founded 1950 | Country Lebanon Website lebarmy.gov.lb | |
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Size 5000 personnel65 vessels Commander Rear-Admiral Majed Alwan Similar | ||
The Lebanese Navy (Arabic: القوات البحرية اللبنانية Al-qūwātu al-Baḥriyya al-Lubnāniyya), literally "the Lebanese Sea Forces" is the Navy of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It was formed in 1950 and based in Beirut Naval Base, Lebanon’s first naval base. The navy, which currently lacks the proper number of equipment, has a number of approximately 65 vessels of various sizes and roles; however, the navy is trying to modernize itself, and increase its size. The flag of the Lebanese navy depicts a Phoenician ship with the Lebanese Cedar tree, positioned on an anchor above the Arabic inscription of the navy's name.
Contents
- Italy s ambassador delivers the lebanese navy boat to carry out hydrographic survey
- The role in marine conservation
- Current fleet list
- Coastal Radar Stations
- Surveillance
- Training
- Cooperation with the UNIFIL MTF
- Figures
- References
The Lebanese government approved on January 16, 2009 a request by the Lebanese Ministry of Defense to build a new naval base on the shores of Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.
Italy s ambassador delivers the lebanese navy boat to carry out hydrographic survey
The role in marine conservation
Main article: Marine environmental issues in Lebanon
In Lebanon, marine conservation, marine pollution response and implementation of the international maritime conventions such as the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships are the concern of the Lebanese navy, since it is the only state authority that can enforce the maritime law in both Lebanese exclusive economic zone and territorial waters.
For the reason that:
Lebanese Navy undergoes difficulties in accomplishing its enduring roles in maritime safety, security and marine environment stewardship.
Current fleet list
On February 19, 2015 the Saudi press agency quoted on a Saudi official, that Saudi Arabia halted the $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon. Lebanese navy does not have any vessel operational and maneouvrable in difficult weather conditions and undergoes diffuculties in accomplishing its mission in Search and rescue, Marine safety, Marine environmental protection, Maritime law enforcement, and controlling illegal migrants fleeing to Europe and suffering casualties. Also, Lebanon intends to provide protection for the future natural gas installations and enforce the law and the State authority in Lebanese Territorial Waters. Lebanon count on the US military aid to be equipped with a multi-function vessel with a wide range of capabilities such as the RiverHawk OSV 60.
Coastal Radar Stations
The Lebanese Navy is in charge of the coastal radar stations, in 1992, three stations in all of Tripoli, Sidon, and Tyre were established, followed by upgrades and new stations in 1997. However, during the 2006 Lebanon War all of the stations were bombed by the Israeli Navy. After the war ended, Germany and Lebanon signed a bilateral agreement to establish The Coastal Radar Organization (CRO) which aimed to create and consolidate a chain of seven coastal radar stations with the ability to cover the entire Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. Three of these stations are older and were refurbished with new equipment and facilities; the four other are new installations.
Surveillance
In February, 2008, the Lebanese navy ordered six Pharos XLR3+ Long Range Multisensor Surveillance Platforms in order to equip their naval stations which lack 24/7 long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in all weather conditions.
Training
The Lebanese Naval Forces send nearly all of their Navy officers for training abroad in a variety of European countries as well as the United States. Each country offers different training depending on the specializations of each officer. Officers sent to the United States have undergone schooling in surface warfare and experienced on job training with the US Coast Guard. Many Lebanese Naval Forces Engineers head to France where they receive education regarding detection, transmission, and artillery. Skills used in much of the domestic duties of the Lebanese Naval Forces from initial staff courses, amphibious training, and maritime drug enforcement are taught at British academies. The skills of the Lebanese Naval Forces are not incredibly diverse or necessarily advanced to the level of European countries due to their limited human resources and equipments.
Cooperation with the UNIFIL MTF
The existence of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is helping the Lebanese Navy to enhance the skills of its personnel through the periodical joint exercises and daily cooperation. Upon the arrival of the MTF to the region (after the 2006 Lebanon War), the Lebanese Navy began jointly working with the navy in lead, which at the time was the Italian Navy, in order to insure a successful outcome to the assigned peace operation.