Here’s a question to start: what does $100 million in redirected military aid say about the United States’ foreign policy priorities? For the Biden administration, it speaks volumes. In the twilight of its term, Washington has reallocated significant military aid originally destined for Israel and Egypt to Lebanon. And it’s not just a gesture it’s a strategic manoeuvre aimed at bolstering a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a series of notices sent to Congress on 3 January, the State Department announced that $95 million earmarked for Egypt and $7.5 million allocated to Israel will instead go towards supporting Lebanon’s military and government. The move underscores U.S. hopes of stabilising a region that’s been battered by conflict.
Why Lebanon?
Most of the redirected funds will strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). After a devastating two-month war between Israel and Hezbollah, the LAF’s role in maintaining the November ceasefire has become crucial. This funding will help deploy the LAF to southern Lebanon, where it will operate alongside the U.N. peacekeeping mission overseeing the “Blue Line” boundary between Israel and Lebanon.
The State Department’s rationale? A robust and empowered LAF is essential to prevent flare-ups and to stand as Lebanon’s only legitimate military force. In its notice, the department stated, “U.S. security assistance to the LAF increases its capacity… enables the LAF to prevent potential destabilisation from ISIS and other terrorist groups, and enables the LAF to provide security both for the Lebanese people and for U.S. personnel.”
Navigating Criticism
Of course, not everyone is on board. Critics of U.S. assistance to the Lebanese military have argued that the LAF has been infiltrated by Hezbollah, a group supported by Iran. The State Department, however, firmly dismissed these claims.
“U.S. support to the LAF reinforces the LAF as an important institutional counterweight to Hezbollah,” the notice emphasised, describing the LAF as a non-sectarian and respected institution in Lebanon.
A Wider Strategy
But this isn’t just about southern Lebanon. The U.S. is also investing in Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, with $15 million earmarked to rebuild police stations, improve communications, and purchase vehicles. This funding aims to strengthen the country’s primary law enforcement agency and assist in maintaining order in the south.
Elsewhere in the region, the Biden administration announced $3.06 million for Palestinian Authority police operations in the West Bank and $2.5 million for Jordan’s Public Security Directorate to bolster its response to public demonstrations.
The Bigger Picture
This reallocation of military aid highlights a calculated effort by Washington to stabilise a region that remains on edge. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is fragile, but the U.S. is betting on the LAF’s ability to uphold it. By redirecting funds, the administration is signalling its belief in Lebanon’s military as a counterweight to extremism and as a critical partner in fostering peace.
