The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is the national military institution of the Lebanese Republic, also known as the Lebanese Army. It was officially founded on August 1, 1945, when its precursor, les Troupes Spéciales du Levant, was transferred to the full authority of the Lebanese National Government following the country's independence. The LAF was created to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and maintain internal stability in the multi-sectarian nation.
The mechanism of the LAF is defined by the National Defense Law (Decree number 102 of 1983), which assigns it three core missions: defense, security, and development. The defense mission includes confronting the Israeli enemy and defending the nation's borders, while the security mission involves maintaining internal stability, fighting terrorism, and raiding arms caches. The LAF is structured into three main branches: the Ground Forces, the Air Force, and the Naval Forces. Its command structure reflects Lebanon's confessional system, with the Army Commander customarily being a Maronite Christian.
The LAF connects directly to the challenge of non-state actors like Hezbollah and the implementation of international mandates such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. A major recent change occurred following the November 2024 ceasefire with Israel. The new leadership, including President Joseph Aoun, has declared an intention to establish the LAF as the country's sole military force. In late 2025, a multi-stage plan, "Shield of the Homeland," was approved to disarm non-state groups, with the LAF actively working to implement the first phase in southern Lebanon.