Publication

This paper sheds light on the group loyalties and identities that exist in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which continue to reflect the communal and political divisions that mar Lebanon's broader society. More specifically, the author discusses 1) the three main generational groups that exist in the LAF; 2) the changing dynamics and sectarian composition of the armed forces since 1920; 3) the LAF’s relationship with Hezbollah, which is complicated by the army’s Sunni loyalties; and 4) the continued politicization of military appointments.