Western nations including the United States, Netherlands, France, Germany and Britain are pursuing initiatives to train and equip the Lebanese Armed Forces, with the goal of enabling the military to take sovereign control of the country and dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure. Israeli observers, however, caution that weapons and training alone will be insufficient for success.
Analysts argue that the effort's viability depends on political will from the Lebanese government, the loyalty of rank-and-file soldiers, and the LAF's willingness to confront Hezbollah operatives.
Lt. Col. (res.) Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, emphasized that while international support is crucial, it must address systemic problems within the Lebanese military. "It is good and nice that they are giving them capabilities in terms of means, meaning equipment and weapons, but it is not enough," She said. Beyond functional training, the coalition must ensure that soldiers handling Hezbollah operations are not affiliated with the organization. "There needs to be an assessment of who is handling Hezbollah, ensuring that they are not people affiliated with Hezbollah or working for it, but rather people whose loyalty is given to the state."
A significant barrier to institutional loyalty is economic disparity. Hezbollah operatives earn substantially more than Lebanese army soldiers and receive comprehensive socioeconomic services. Mizrahi noted that raising military salaries is essential, as soldiers currently receive roughly a quarter of what militant operatives earn.
She cautioned against forming specialized units that exclude certain populations, warning against repeating the sectarian patterns of Lebanon's past. Any force must represent the entire Lebanese population rather than specific communities.
For Israeli trust to develop, Mizrahi argued that actual military clashes between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah must occur. "Israel will want to see that there is a true commitment to carrying out the mission, even to the point of a willingness to reach violent clashes with Hezbollah," She stated. She also stressed that American oversight is necessary to prevent Hezbollah rearmament.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Ben-Reuven, a former deputy commander of IDF Northern Command, described the current moment as potentially unique, given Lebanese government weakness and Hezbollah's reduced capacity. He cautioned that strengthening the Lebanese army requires realistic expectations and long-term commitment rather than quick solutions. American backing is vital both for military support and economic sustainability, he said.
Ben-Reuven emphasized that progress should be measured by actual field activity and willingness to act against Hezbollah, coupled with American oversight and coordination between military and political leaders. Hezbollah's infrastructure must be dismantled, preferably by Lebanese forces, with future activities outlawed.
Col. (res.) Barak Ben-Zur, a former IDF Military Intelligence officer, attributed increased viability of such initiatives to Israeli military pressure and regional shifts. Iran's conflict with the U.S. Has constrained its ability to support Hezbollah continuously. The fall of the Assad regime severed critical logistics routes and economic assistance channels. Ben-Zur noted that recent Israeli military operations have damaged Hezbollah severely, prompting Lebanese factions to strengthen ties with the United States.