The US has reallocated $95 million in military aid for Egypt to Lebanon, a source familiar with the matter told Al Arabiya English.
Congress will need a reprogramming request, but sources believe it will be passed easily. The Biden administration made a similar move in 2023, diverting $30 million in allocated military aid from Egypt to Lebanon.
US officials have said that support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is crucial for US national security interests, strengthening Lebanon’s state institutions and pushing back against Hezbollah. Critics have said the LAF needs to do more to push back on Iran-backed Hezbollah, which continues to exert influence over most aspects of the government and, along with Palestinian factions, is the only other group with weapons outside the state’s control.
Nevertheless, the LAF has been a critical partner in the fight against ISIS.
Washington brokered a truce between the Iran-backed militant group and Israeli forces that went into effect last November after a yearlong war broke out when Hezbollah began attacking Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas launched one of the deadliest attacks on Israel ever when it killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023. As part of the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces were to withdraw from occupied Lebanese lands before the LAF would take over areas, weapons depots and villages previously used by Hezbollah.
Al Arabiya
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