Lebanese soldiers at a checkpoint on an unidentified road in southern Lebanon during the troop deployment on Nov. 28, 2024. (Photo provided by the Lebanese army)
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will transfer $95 million in military aid to Lebanon, originally allocated to Egypt, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.
The State Department’s notification to Congress regarding the planned change describes the Lebanese army as a “key partner” in upholding the Israeli-Lebanese agreement of Nov. 27, 2024, aimed at halting hostilities and preventing Hezbollah from threatening Israel.
This decision follows strong concerns expressed by some Congressional Democrats about Egypt’s human rights situation, particularly after the imprisonment of thousands of political prisoners in the country. The State Department and the Egyptian embassy in Washington have not commented immediately.
The State Department had declared in September that the Biden administration was bypassing human rights conditions on military aid to Egypt, granting Cairo its full $1.3 billion allocation, including $95 million specifically tied to the country's progress in releasing political prisoners. The notification did not specify that the $95 million (transferred to Lebanon) matched those particular funds, but a Congressional aide stated he did not believe the amount was coincidental.
Egypt has been a crucial partner for the Biden administration in efforts to deliver more aid to Gaza and has contributed to mediation, so far unsuccessful, to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The decision made in September regarding funds intended for Egypt prompted objections within Congress, notably from Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons, both key members of the Foreign Relations Committee, who issued a joint statement denouncing this decision.
Professionalizing the Lebanese Armed Forces
According to the State Department document, the funds are intended to professionalize the Lebanese armed forces, enhance border security, combat terrorism, and address security needs related to the power shift in Syria.
“The United States remains the partner of choice for Lebanon in terms of security, and American support for the Lebanese Armed Forces directly contributes to the security of Lebanon and the broader Levant region,” the notification specifies.
The strengthening of the Lebanese army could also prevent the transition of power in Syria from being disrupted by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, which played a significant role in supporting the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad during the civil war in Syria.
Under U.S. law, Congress has 15 days to oppose a reallocation of military aid, but a Congressional advisor familiar with the process said Monday that he expects lawmakers to welcome the administration’s fund reallocation to Lebanon.
It is a way of saying “this funding that Egypt didn’t really deserve and doesn’t really need, let’s reprogram it and use it more effectively,” according to the advisor who requested anonymity to speak freely.
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