Qatar backs Lebanon with $60 million aid, army vehicles After Hezbollah-Israel war

Qatar has announced it will provide 162 military vehicles and a $60 million financial package to the Lebanese Armed Forces to assist in salary payments and help the military maintain stability, particularly along the southern border with Israel.

The support comes as Lebanon recovers from the aftermath of a 14-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

The joint announcement was made on April 16 by both Beirut and Doha, following Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the Qatari capital. 

The statement underlined the importance of implementing the UN Security Council resolution mandating the deployment of additional Lebanese troops along the border, in line with the ceasefire agreement that requires a withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters.

President Aoun, who is on a two-day official visit to Qatar, reiterated his condemnation of Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon and near-daily airstrikes in the area. Although Israeli forces withdrew from much of southern Lebanon in February, they continue to occupy five strategic positions. Since then, Israeli drone strikes have killed or injured dozens, with the latest attacks on Wednesday claiming two more lives, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The Qatari Emir reaffirmed his country’s commitment to standing by Lebanon “in support of its people and institutions.” This latest contribution marks a continuation of Qatar’s backing for the Lebanese military, which began in earnest during the country’s 2019 financial collapse, initially through food aid and later via direct cash transfers from 2022 onwards.

The war between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on October 8, 2023, a day after the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah stated that its attacks aimed to divert Israeli forces and relieve pressure on Gaza. The fighting, which was halted in November by a US-mediated ceasefire, claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon and caused damage estimated at $11 billion, according to the World Bank.

Lebanon has since ushered in a new president and prime minister, both of whom have pledged sweeping reforms as part of the country's path to recovery.

By Aghakazim Guliyev