Media: US to redirect military aid allocated for Egypt to Lebanon

The Biden administration has decided to redirect $95 million in military aid initially earmarked for Egypt to Lebanon, a country facing threats from Hezbollah and other non-state actors, while also overseeing a ceasefire with Israel.

The US State Department’s notification to Congress highlighted Lebanon’s armed forces as a crucial partner in maintaining the ceasefire agreement signed on November 27, 2024, and preventing Hezbollah from posing a threat to Israel, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

This decision follows growing concerns among some Democratic lawmakers about Egypt’s human rights record, particularly the detention of thousands of political prisoners. The US had previously bypassed human rights conditions in September, approving the full $1.3 billion military aid package for Egypt, including $95 million specifically linked to Egypt’s progress on releasing political prisoners. The State Department has not clarified if the redirected funds are the same $95 million, but a congressional aide suggested it was likely not a coincidence.

While Egypt has been a key player in US efforts to get aid into Gaza and mediate between Israel and Hamas, this reallocation of funds reflects the administration’s focus on other priorities, including supporting Lebanon’s security. The Biden administration's September decision to approve military aid for Egypt despite human rights concerns sparked opposition within Congress, including from Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons, both senior members of the Foreign Relations Committee. 

They issued a joint statement criticizing the move. According to the State Department's report, the redirected funds will be used to enhance the professionalism of the Lebanese Armed Forces, improve border security, combat terrorism, and address security challenges arising from the shifting political landscape in Syria. 

"The United States remains Lebanon’s security partner of choice, and US support to the LAF directly helps secure Lebanon and the wider Levant region," the notification said.

Strengthening Lebanon's military could also play a crucial role in preventing disruptions to Syria’s transition by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite Islamist group that previously supported Assad during the Syrian civil war. 

Under US law, Congress has 15 days to raise objections to the reallocation of military aid, but a congressional aide familiar with the process indicated that lawmakers are likely to support the administration’s decision to redirect the funds to Lebanon.

"This is a way to say, 'This funding that Egypt didn't really deserve and doesn't really need, let's reprogram that and put this in a better place," the aide said. 

The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensified following the events of September 17 and 18, 2024 when explosions from pagers and other communication devices injured thousands, including members of the movement, in Lebanon. 

The Lebanese authorities accused Tel Aviv of being responsible for the attacks. Since then, Israel has been targeting the leadership of the Shiite movement and conducting airstrikes on Lebanese territory.

The situation in the Middle East deteriorated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Hamas radical group launched a massive rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.

By Naila Huseynova