“The void is knocking at the door of the Lebanese Army… no new volunteers at the military academy.” This is what was reported by “Independent Arabia.”
In the article, writer Tony Boulos talked about the efforts being made to keep the military institution out of political conflicts and successive economic crises in Lebanon. The accumulation of disagreements between the Ministry of Defense and the military leadership has been escalating, starting with the issue of extending the term of Army Commander Joseph Aoun and reaching the appointment of the Chief of Staff, which remains stalled due to the Defense Minister’s refusal to approve the appointment despite a decree from the government. Additionally, there is the issue of the military academy, where Minister Maurice Sleem still refuses to sign the list of those who passed the entrance exams, claiming that these exams did not meet the required standards, which the army leadership denies.
According to the article, “As a result of the military academy stopping the admission of new volunteers for four consecutive years, the Lebanese Army is suffering from a severe shortage in the number of officers and urgently needs to recruit large numbers of officers and soldiers, especially amid the security tensions in the country. Any ‘diplomatic’ settlement of the conflict with Israel may require sending about seven thousand additional personnel to southern Lebanon under international resolution 1701.” This has led political and military officials to fear the dangers of halting recruitment in the army for a long period as “officer cadets,” as the absence of recruitment for one or two years would have several impacts on the army’s hierarchy (leadership and roles) and could lead to a loss of the military cadres usually present on the ground (lieutenants and first lieutenants), affecting all the operational tasks of the military institution.
Observers also express concerns about a scenario similar to what happened between 1986 and 1994, when recruitment was halted due to the civil war (1975-1990). However, in 1995 and 1996, a large number of recruits were brought in to meet the need, leading to the existence of more than 600 brigadiers in the Lebanese Army, a number far exceeding the need for this rank.
It is noted that the number of Lebanese Army personnel used to be around 83,000 soldiers, whereas today it is 72,000. The defense budget for 2023 was 20,838 billion Lebanese pounds, while in 2024, it reached 39,307 billion pounds. Expenditures are mainly distributed on salaries, wages, and social allowances, according to “Information International” owned by Jouad Adra.
Zeina Akar… Among the First to Advocate for Military Rights
Since taking the position of Minister of Defense in Hassan Diab’s government, Zeina Akar has been consistently committed to the interests of the military, maintaining continuous communication with soldiers and officers. During an inspection tour of several units and brigades of the Lebanese Army in 2020, Akar thanked the army leadership, officers, and soldiers for “the efforts they have made during the past period,” emphasizing that “trust in the military institution is the guarantee for Lebanon’s rise.”
In an interview with “Asas” in September 2021, Zeina Akar stated that “ground communication is of great importance,” saying, “It matters a lot to me to interact with people. Direct communication with army officers and soldiers is beneficial, as it makes them feel the presence of the responsible person alongside them and their interest in listening to them. I worked on many issues in the Ministry of Defense in light of these field visits.”
During her tenure as Minister of Defense, Zeina Akar postponed the payment of military housing loans and the solidarity fund for a year. Akar said in a press interview, “I recognized the importance of the issue through my interaction with the military on the ground. I would return to the ministry and contact those concerned with resolving the issue, such as the banks association and the banks, who quickly addressed the matter.”
Although Zeina Akar left her political position, she continues her reformative and educational role through her activities in human development, particularly for women, and through her management of the “Nabu Museum” in northern Lebanon. Zeina Akar believes that cultural awareness contributes to liberating societies from their crises. The “Nabu Museum” is not just a traditional museum displaying artistic and historical artifacts, but a space for dialogue, art, and culture, especially through the continuous cultural and artistic events held on its premises.
Summary: As a result of the military academy stopping the admission of new volunteers for four consecutive years, the Lebanese Army is suffering from a severe shortage in the number of officers!
