October 15, 2026
In a step that reflects the international community’s keenness to support the military establishment in Lebanon amid its increasing security and social burdens, the German government announced an increase in its support for the Lebanese army through the United Nations Development Programme, by providing an additional contribution of 5 million euros. This brings the total German funding provided to the army through the aforementioned program to 10 million euros.
This new funding, which falls within the framework of non-military aid and whose implementation extends until February 2028, will be allocated directly to improving the living conditions of about 81,500 military personnel and their families. This includes supporting the food, healthcare, education, and housing sectors, as well as providing the military with the necessary equipment to remove rubble and explosive ordnance to accelerate recovery efforts in the affected areas.
This aid is of exceptional importance in light of the delicate transitional phase that Lebanon is going through, and the continuing financial pressures that the military institution has been suffering from since 2019, coinciding with the increasing responsibilities placed on the army to extend state authority in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 1701, especially after the escalation of hostilities in March 2026 led to the displacement of more than 50,000 military personnel and members of their families, amid the uncertainty of the scene regarding their return, in parallel. With the adoption of Security Council Resolution No. 2790 ending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Commenting on the step, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Regional Office for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme, Abdullah Dardari, stressed that the continued German support sends “a strong message of solidarity with Lebanon in a pivotal transitional phase,” stressing the pivotal role played by the Lebanese army in protecting the path of national recovery.
It is noteworthy that Germany has supported the project “Enhancing the role of the Lebanese Army and expanding the scope of its participation by supporting the living system for soldiers” since its launch in December 2024. The first batch of German funding, amounting to 5 million euros, contributed to securing basic food supplies at subsidized prices within 144 cooperatives affiliated with “Soldier’s Homes,” in addition to modernizing the electronic system for points of sale.
The project is being implemented according to a memorandum of understanding concluded with the Ministry of National Defense and the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, and with broad international participation that includes, in addition to Germany, the European Union, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, and Japan. The project aims to enhance civil-military cooperation activities, strengthen communication with local communities, and enhance confidence in state institutions.
On the параллеl line, Germany provided, through the same financing mechanism, more than 6 million euros to support the “stabilization response mechanism,” designated to support the Internal Security Forces in southern Lebanon and revive basic public services, such as civil registry and traffic management, in a way that consolidates the foundations of stability and security in the country.
