Sources reported that Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun warned on Wednesday in France that the economic crisis has placed the army on the brink of collapse, and Paris has offered urgent food and medical aid to the forces in hopes of maintaining law and order. France, which has led relief efforts for Lebanon, is seeking to pressure the warring Lebanese politicians who have so far failed to agree on forming a new government and implementing reforms that would allow foreign financial aid for their country.
Discontent is growing among Lebanese security forces due to the currency collapse that has wiped out most of their salaries' value. In unusual statements in March, Aoun indicated that his warnings to Lebanese officials—that this could lead to an internal collapse—have gone unheeded. According to three sources familiar with his visit to Paris, Aoun told senior French officials that the situation is fragile and unsustainable.
One source familiar with meetings held on Wednesday, including a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, said, "We are worried because the Lebanese army is the backbone of the country." Two sources indicated that France will provide food and medical supplies to army personnel whose salaries have sharply decreased recently, prompting many to take on second jobs. One source noted that France is working to arrange a conference in June aimed at garnering international support for the Lebanese army.
The value of the Lebanese pound has plunged by 90% since late 2019 in a financial collapse that poses the greatest threat to Lebanon's stability since the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990. The Lebanese army has long been seen as an institution representing a rare model of unity and national pride. The army's collapse at the beginning of the civil war, when it split along sectarian lines, accelerated Lebanon's descent into militia control.
In a statement following his meeting with his counterpart General François Lecointre, Chief of Staff of the French Army, Aoun noted that the Lebanese army is experiencing a severe crisis that is worsening. Macron's office stated that France will continue to support the Lebanese army.
