FALCON POWERS – The National News Agency reported on Monday that the Lebanese Army has received an additional $20 million from Qatar to support its forces.
The agency quoted a statement from the army saying, “The army command received a new tranche of the Qatari financial grant, worth $20 million… as part of the ongoing support for the military institution amidst the current challenges.” This support comes at a critical time amid an exchange of fire between the Israeli army and the armed Lebanese Hezbollah group across the southern Lebanese border, coinciding with the Gaza war. The Lebanese army is not participating in the fighting, but a Lebanese soldier was killed in an Israeli bombardment in December.
A security source told Reuters that the new Qatari assistance is a continuation of a previous $60 million package announced in 2022, which was distributed in installments to soldiers to support their salaries.
The source added that each soldier will receive $100 per month.
The ongoing economic collapse over the past five years has seen the value of the Lebanese pound plummet against the dollar, causing the salaries of most soldiers to drop to less than $100 per month.
This amount is barely enough to pay the subscription for private generators that can compensate for the government’s electricity grid, which is cut for 22 hours a day.
A large number of soldiers work in other jobs, while some have had to resign due to the low wages, raising concerns about the deterioration of the military institution, which is one of the few institutions in Lebanon that the people are proud of and helps achieve unity among the divided sects.
