لبنان: زمن الحزم العسكري!

In light of ongoing security challenges, the Lebanese Army (Lebanese Armed Forces - LAF) emerges as a crucial factor in restoring national sovereignty. According to reliable global statistics, Lebanon ranks eighth in the world in the ratio of active armed forces to the population (~7 per 1000 people), surpassing the global average (3.5) by two times, and outperforming major countries such as Turkey (5.5) and Armenia (6.5), while approaching Ukraine (7.5).

This high ratio is not a coincidence; rather, it is a historical response to maintain stability amid deep sectarian divisions and internal threats from non-state armed groups. With a unified decision from sovereign authorities, the army can effectively assert its authority.

North Korea tops the ranking with a ratio of (49) per (1000), followed by South Korea (11), then Israel and Vietnam (10 each), followed by Eritrea (9.5), Belarus (8), Ukraine (7.5), Lebanon (7), Armenia (6.5), and finally Turkey (5.5).

With a population of ~5 million, the army has ~30-60 thousand active soldiers, giving it a strong internal force despite its overall ranking (118 globally).

Lebanon received a 10-day ceasefire with Israel, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump and the significant role of Saudi Arabia, after communications with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ceasefire came into effect on April 16, 2026, as a test of state sovereignty away from guardianships.

The Lebanese army must make the most of this ceasefire to disarm the administrative Beirut, by implementing the Cabinet decision made on April 9, 2026, after Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced at the end of the session: “In accordance with the Taif Agreement and relevant government decisions, and to ensure the safety of citizens and their security and property, the army and security forces are requested to immediately enhance the full control of the state over the Beirut Governorate and restrict arms therein to legitimate forces only, and to strictly enforce the laws and take all necessary measures against violators and refer them to the competent judiciary.”

This disarmament demonstrates to the international community the army's ability to restrict arms to the state, paving the way for talks on the Israeli withdrawal from the south.

Until negotiations are conducted and Israel withdraws, the Lebanese army is deployed in southern Lebanon to enforce security dominance. This deployment is not merely a transition; it is an enhancement of national sovereignty, as statistics show the Lebanese army's numerical superiority over the armies of major countries at a high ratio compared to the population. Unlike countries that rely on foreign forces, Lebanon does not need foreign soldiers. Its internal strength (~30-80 thousand active soldiers, at a rate of 7 per 1000) is sufficient to control borders and territories, especially with its focus on internal stability rather than external wars.

The ceasefire is a true test of sovereignty: the army must first disarm the administrative Beirut to affirm the state's authority, and then fully deploy south after concluding negotiations and the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories.

The Lebanese army is not just an institution; it is the sole pillar for restoring national sovereignty. By immediately implementing the government decision, Lebanon proves its ability to be self-reliant without foreign interventions, benefiting from its superior military ratio globally (ranked 8).