View source for Lebanese Navy

{{Short description|Maritime warfare branch of Lebanon's military}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Lebanese Navy
| native_name                   = القوات البحرية اللبنانية
| image                         = File:Drapeau de Forces Navales Libanaises.jpg
| image_size                    = 260
| caption                       = Flag of the Lebanese Navy
| start_date                    = 1950
| country                       = {{flag|Lebanon}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Navy]]
| size                          = 1,500 personnel <br /> 30 [[watercraft]] <br /> Interceptors: 8 <br /> [[Patrol boat]]s: 6 <br /> [[Gunboat]]s: 8 <br /> [[Landing craft]]: 2 <br /> Scientific boat: 1
| command_structure             = [[Lebanese Armed Forces]]
| garrison                      = [[Beirut Naval Base]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| motto                         = 
| patron                        = 
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| battles                       = *[[1958 Lebanon crisis]]
*[[War over Water (Jordan river)|The War over Water]]
*[[Six-Day War]]
*[[Lebanese Civil War]]
** [[Battle of the Hotels]]
** [[Hundred Days' War]]
** [[Multinational Force in Lebanon|Multinational Force in Lebanon 1982–1984]]
** [[Mountain War (Lebanon)|Mountain War]]
** [[War of the Camps]]
*[[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1978–present)]]<ref>[https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unifil/ United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] Peacekeeping in between the Blue Line</ref>
*[[Dinnieh fighting|Operation Dinnieh]]
*[[War on Terror|Global War on Terrorism (2001- Present)]]
*[[Operation Benin]]
*[[2006 Lebanon War]]
*[[2007 Lebanon conflict|Operation Nahr el Bared]]
*[[2008 conflict in Lebanon]]
*[[2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash]]
*[[2013 Sidon clash]]
*[[Hanikra border clash]]
*[[Battle of Arsal]]
*[[North Lebanon Clashes (2014)]]
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| website                       = {{URL|https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/navy-forces|Official website}}
<!-- Commanders -->| current_commander             = Haissam Dannaoui
| commander1                    = 
| commander1_label              = 
| commander2                    = 
| commander2_label              = 
| commander3                    = 
| commander3_label              = 
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:Emblem of the Lebanese Navy.jpg|90px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = Emblem
| identification_symbol_2       = [[File:Naval Jack of Lebanon.gif|125px]]
| identification_symbol_2_label = Jack
| identification_symbol_3       = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4       = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
}}
The '''Lebanese Navy'''<ref group="note">{{langx|ar|القوات البحرية اللبنانية|Al-qūwātu al-Baḥriyya al-Lubnāniyya|lit=the Lebanese Sea Forces}}</ref> is the [[navy|naval warfare]] of the [[Lebanese Armed Forces]]. Formed in 1950, it traces its heritage to the maritime civilization of Phoenicia; its flag depicts a [[Phoenicia]]n ship with the [[Lebanon Cedar|Lebanese Cedar]] tree, positioned on an anchor above the Arabic inscription of the navy's name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-21 |title=Navy Forces |url=https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/navy-forces |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.lebarmy.gov.lb |language=en}}</ref> Headquartered at [[Beirut Naval Base]], [[Lebanon]]'s first and largest naval base, the navy has posts [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], [[Sidon|Saida]], and [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyr]].

The Lebanese Navy is charged with several missions, including securing and aiding communications and navigation to Lebanese ports; defending Lebanon's [[exclusive economic zone]], regional waters, and coast from any naval military aggression; fighting terrorism, illegal immigration, smuggling, and drug trafficking; protecting commercial vessels; providing naval support and early warning to security forces participating in joint military operations; and protecting natural resources and national interests along the coast and the regional waters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helou |first=Agnes |date=2022-07-13 |title=In a first, Lebanese navy to operate drones to aid maritime border security |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/in-a-first-lebanese-navy-to-operate-drones-to-aid-maritime-border-security/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Lebanese Navy has approximately 69 vessels of various sizes and roles, most of which are outdated and deemed unfit for modern service; however, it has embarked on a modernization and expansion program in partnership with the United States, France, the United Nations, and other allies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helou |first=Agnes |date=2023-08-15 |title=Lebanese navy to soon receive 3 protector class boats from the US, eyes 3 more |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/lebanese-navy-to-soon-receive-3-protector-class-boats-from-the-us-eyes-3-more/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref> The navy has also sought to enhance its capabilities, engaging in joint exercises with the United States in 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Naval Forces Begin Maritime Exercise with Lebanon |url=https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/3089925/us-naval-forces-begin-maritime-exercise-with-lebanon/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=U.S. Fleet Forces Command |language=en-US}}</ref> and opening a new naval academy with Germany assistance the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hourie.com/news/21 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.hourie.com}}</ref>

== History ==
The Lebanese Navy forces were established in 1950 and were located in the 1st basin of Beirut Port. In 1972, they were transferred to Jounieh after gaining authority over the buildings of Jounieh Naval Base. After the [[Lebanese Civil War]], they moved back to the [[Beirut Naval Base]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Navy Forces {{!}} الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني |url=https://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/content/navy-forces |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.lebarmy.gov.lb|date=21 October 2015 }}</ref>

=== 2006 Lebanon war ===
During 2006 Lebanon war, posts of the Naval Forces along the Lebanese coast conducted active early detection operations of drones from the opposing Israeli side. These drones targeted certain posts, leading to casualties and injuries among the military personnel.<ref name=":0" />

The Navy also helped in clearing the petroleum pollution caused by the targeted fuel tanks at the [[Jiyeh Power Station oil spill|Jiyeh electricity station]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Nahr el Bared Camp ===
In 2007, during internal fighting between the Lebanese Army and Islamist groups in the [[Nahr el-Bared|Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp]] near Tripoli, the Lebanese Navy stopped and intercepted any supplies from reaching the jihadists and were able to prevent them from escaping through sea.<ref name=":0" /> In 2009, the Lebanese government approved a request by the [[Ministry of National Defense (Lebanon)|Lebanese Ministry of Defense]] to build a new naval base on the shores of the camp.<ref name="Ref_2009">{{Cite news|url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/97CA7337AE7DDC5CC2257540005FC75D?OpenDocument|title=Naval Base on the Shores of Nahr al-Bared Camp|date=January 16, 2009|publisher=Naharnet Newsdesk|accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref>

=== Rescue operations ===
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 was an international commercial flight scheduled from [[Beirut]] to [[Addis Ababa]] that crashed into the [[Mediterranean Sea]] shortly after [[takeoff]] from [[Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport|Rafic Hariri International Airport]] on 25 January 2010, killing all 90 people on board.<ref name="ASN">{{ASN accident|id=20100125-0|accessdate=25 August 2011}}</ref> On the morning following the crash, Lebanese authorities reported locating the crash site {{convert|3.5|km|nmi}} off the coast from the village of [[Haret en Naameh|Na'ameh]], in {{convert|45|m|ft}} of water.<ref name="Herald">{{cite web |title=Crash: Ethiopian Airlines B738 near Beirut on 25 January 2010, lost height after takeoff and impacted Mediterranean |url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4264b8d5 |access-date=25 January 2010 |publisher=The Aviation Herald}}</ref> The search for survivors was carried out by the [[Lebanese Army]], using [[Sikorsky S-61]] helicopters, the Lebanese Navy and [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL]] troops. On 7 February, Lebanese Army divers recovered the plane's [[flight data recorder]] and [[cockpit voice recorder]] (CVR).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Box Retrieved 14 Days after Ethiopian Plane Crash |url=http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&0636478B4FBBDD29C22576C3002381CD |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210183806/http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&0636478B4FBBDD29C22576C3002381CD |archive-date=10 February 2010 |access-date=7 February 2010 |work=Naharnet |publisher=An-Nahar |format=news |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The CVR was missing a memory storage unit when found. This was reported on 16 February as having been recovered.<ref name="Herald2">{{cite web |title=Crash: Ethiopian Airlines B738 near Beirut on 25 January 2010, lost height after takeoff and impacted Mediterranean |url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4264b8d5 |access-date=25 January 2010 |publisher=The Aviation Herald}}</ref>  All were sent to the French ''[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]]'' (BEA) for analysis. All the deceased were recovered from the sea by 23 February.<ref name="Herald3">{{cite web |title=Crash: Ethiopian Airlines B738 near Beirut on 25 January 2010, lost height after takeoff and impacted Mediterranean |url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4264b8d5 |access-date=25 January 2010 |publisher=The Aviation Herald}}</ref>

==== Migrant boats ====

* September 22, 2022 – At least 94 people are killed when a boat carrying migrants from [[Lebanon]] [[capsize]]s off [[Syria]]'s coast. 9 people survived. Many were declared missing and some were found either dead or injured.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2022 |title=Death toll from Lebanon migrant boat climbs to 73, minister says |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/death-toll-from-lebanon-migrant-boat-climbs-to-73-minister-says-1.90782359 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
* April 23, 2022 – 6 people die and around 50 people are rescued after an overloaded boat sinks in [[Tripoli, Lebanon]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mello |first1=Charbel |last2=Kourdi |first2=Eyad |last3=Alberti |first3=Mia |date=24 April 2022 |title=Six drown off Lebanon coast after overloaded boat capsizes, says Lebanese navy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/24/world/lebanon-migrant-boat-capsize-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=CNN |agency=Reuters}}</ref>
* September 24, 2023 – The Lebanese Navy rescued 27 migrants from a sinking boat off the coast of northern Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ganot |first=Steven |date=2023-09-24 |title=Lebanese Army Rescues 27 Migrants off Northern Coast |url=https://themedialine.org/mideast-daily-news/lebanese-army-rescues-27-migrants-off-northern-coast/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=The Media Line |language=en-US}}</ref>
* October 7, 2023 – The Lebanese Navy rescued 124 Lebanese and Syrians on board an illegal immigration boat off the shores of al-Mina.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's naval forces rescue 125 immigrants at sea |url=https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1127953 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.daijiworld.com |language=en}}</ref>
* December 17, 2023 – The Naval forces rescued 51 people from a sinking migrant boat.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/12/17/Lebanese-army-says-rescued-51-people-from-sinking-migrant-boat- | title=Lebanese army says rescued 51 people from sinking migrant boat | date=17 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Equipment==
===Current fleet list===
{| style="width:100;" class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;"| Class
! style="text-align: left;"| Type
! style="text-align: left;"| Origin
! style="text-align: left;"| In Service
! style="text-align: left;"| Note
! style="text-align: left;"| Photos
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Patrol boat
|-
| Advanced Multimission Platform <br />AMP 145 <br />(LOA 43.50 metres)
| Coastal and blue water patrol craft
| {{USA}}
| 41-Trablous<ref>{{cite web |title=Trablous - Lebanese Coastal Security Craft LCSC-42 RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames (RHFSF) Advanced Multimission Platform |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/lebanon/lns-trablous.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
|
|
|-
| [[Marine Protector-class patrol boat]] (LOA 27.00 meters)
| Patrol boat
| {{USA}}
| 3 units <br /> 2701 <br /> 2702 <br /> 2703<ref name="3xprotectorclass">{{Cite tweet |user= lebarmyofficial |number= 1693624478519988596 |title=Arrival of three patrol boats from USA}}</ref>
|ex-USCGC Dorado,<br />ex-USCGC Chinook,<br />ex-USCGC Shearwater
|[[File:US Navy 090818-N-1325N-003 U. S. Coast Guardsmen man the rails as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sea Fox (WPB 87374) is brought to life at Naval Base Kitsap.jpg|200px]]
|-
| [[:de:Todendorf-Klasse|Todendorf class]] <br />(LOA 28,90 Meters)
| rowspan="2" | Security boat <br />(Sicherungsboot)
| rowspan="2" | {{GER}}
| 42-Tabarja <br />(ex-Y838 Bergen)
|Armed with [[Nexter Narwhal|NEXTER Narwhal 20A]] (RWS).
|[[File:Todendorf class 1469.JPG|200px]]
|-
| [[Fassmer FPB 20]] <br />(LOA 20,00 meters)
| 308-Nakoura<br />(ex-Bremen 9)
|
*Armed with [[Nexter Narwhal|NEXTER Narwhal 20A]] (RWS).
*Equipped with water cannon for fire fighting.
|
|-
| [[Attacker class patrol boat|''Attacker'' class]]<br />(LOA 20,00 meters)
| Boat
| {{UK}}
| 307-Sarafand
|Armed with [[Nexter Narwhal|NEXTER Narwhal 15A]] (20mm cannon).
|
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Fast interceptor boat
|-
| Phenix 55 FPB<ref name="navynebarticle">{{Cite journal|journal=Lebanese Army Magazine|url=http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/article.asp?ln=ar&id=18092|script-title=ar:القوات البحرية|date= October 2007|accessdate=December 7, 2008|first=Antoine|last=Colonel Njeim |author2=Doumet, Salim |author3=Masour, Terez|language=Arabic}}</ref> <br />(17 meters/46 knots)
| Speed-boat
| {{flag|Lebanon}}
| Sannine
|
|
|-
| Medium Yacht (Captured from a drug smuggler)<ref name="Wertheim2007">{{Cite book| last = Wertheim| first = Eric| title = The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World| publisher = Naval Institute Press| year = 2007| location = 291 Wood Road, Annapolis | page = 446| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C&q=Chaser+p-282&pg=PA445| isbn = 978-1-59114-955-2}}</ref>
| Boat
|
| 501-Imanuella
|
|
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Small support boat
|-
|
|
|-
|SILLINGER 1200 RAFALE <br />(LOA 11.53 meters)
| High speed interceptor
| {{FRA}}
| 4
| Optional: 
* Front machine gun support.
* Side machine gun supports.
|
|-
|Gun Boats<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Apr-14/253311-lebanese-navy-receives-8-us-gunboats.ashx#axzz3J7kaWQOI|title=Lebanese Navy receives 8 gunboats from America|date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> <br />(11 meters)
| [[Rigid-hulled inflatable boat|RHIB]]
| {{USA}}
|  8
|
| [[File:US Navy 061121-N-8547M-067 An 11 meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) conducts Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) training off the starboard side of amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2).jpg|200px]]
|-
|SAFE 44 full cabin (13.4 meters)
| Boat 
| {{USA}}
| 4 
|-
|[[Zodiac Nautic|FC470 (4.7m) MilPro Zodiac]]
|[[Rigid inflatable boat]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|
|
|[[File:NZMTP.jpg|180px]]

|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Landing craft
|-
| [[Engin de débarquement d'infanterie et de chars]]<br />(LOA 59,00 Meters)
| Landing craft
| {{FRA}}
|21-Sour <br />22-Damour
|
|[[File:EDIC Sabre.JPG|200px]]
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Scientific boat
|-
|Hydrographic/<br/ >survey/<br />(7.5 meters)
|Hydrographic ship
|{{Flag|Italy}}
|1
|Housed with sophisticated electronic equipment for carrying out undersea measurements.
|
|-
! colspan="6" style="background: lavender;"| Drones
|-
| Rotary unarmed drones - Unknown type
| Surveillance and reconnaissance drone
|{{Flag|United Nations}}
|8
| flight duration up to 50 minutes <br /> Donated by the [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|UNODC]]

| [[File:Quadcopter camera drone in flight.jpg|200px]]
|}
On February 19, 2015, the Saudi press agency quoted on a Saudi official that Saudi Arabia had halted the $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon. The Lebanese Navy does not have any operational vessels maneouvrable in difficult weather conditions and undergoes difficulties in accomplishing Search and Rescue missions, Marine Safety, Marine Environmental Protection, Maritime Law Enforcement and the controlling of illegal migrant traffic to Europe. Also, Lebanon intends to provide protection for the future natural gas installations and enforce the Law and State authority in Lebanese territorial waters. Lebanon counts on the US military aid to be equipped with multi-function vessels with a wide range of capabilities such as the [[RiverHawk OSV 60]].

In May 2021, The United States announced that it donate 7 ships to the Lebanese Navy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the961.com/lebanese-navy-7-new-offshore-patrol-vessels/|title = The Lebanese Navy is Getting 7 New Offshore Patrol Vessels|date = 8 June 2021}}</ref>

===Coastal Radar Stations===
{{Lebanese Military}}
The Lebanese Navy is in charge of the coastal radar stations, in 1992, three stations in all of [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], [[Sidon]], and [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] were established, followed by upgrades and new stations in 1997. However, during the [[2006 Lebanon War]] all of the stations were bombed by the [[Israeli Navy]]. After the war ended, [[Germany]] and Lebanon signed a bilateral agreement to establish '''The Coastal Radar Organization''' (CRO) which aimed to create and consolidate a chain of seven coastal radar stations with the ability to cover the entire Mediterranean coast of Lebanon. Three of these stations are older and were refurbished with new equipment and facilities; the four other are new installations.

==Training==
The Lebanese Naval Forces send nearly all of their Navy officers for training abroad in a variety of European countries as well as the [[United States]]. Each country offers different training depending on the specializations of each officer. Officers sent to the United States have undergone schooling in surface warfare and experienced on job training with the US Coast Guard. Many Lebanese Naval Forces Engineers head to [[France]] where they receive education regarding detection, transmission, and artillery. Skills used in much of the domestic duties of the Lebanese Naval Forces from initial staff courses, amphibious training, and maritime drug enforcement are taught at British academies. The skills of the Lebanese Naval Forces are not incredibly diverse or necessarily advanced to the level of European countries due to their limited human resources and equipment.<ref name="Ref_">{{cite web|title=Lebanese Navy|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|accessdate=November 28, 2008|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/lebanon/navy.htm}}</ref>

==Cooperation with the UNIFIL MTF==
The existence of the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|UNIFIL Maritime Task Force]] is helping the Lebanese Navy to enhance the skills of its personnel through the periodical joint exercises and daily cooperation. Upon the arrival of the MTF to the region (after the [[2006 Lebanon War]]), the Lebanese Navy began jointly working with the navy in lead, which at the time was the [[Marina Militare|Italian Navy]], in order to insure a successful outcome to the assigned peace operation.<ref name="Ref_a">{{cite web|url=http://www.marina.difesa.it/rss/2008/pagine/session/1_session/lebanon/Lebanon.pdf |title=UNIFIL MTF and the Lebanese Navy cooperation and contribution to PSO |work=Rear Admiral (UH) Ali EL MOALLEM |accessdate=2008-12-29 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Marine Commandos]]
* [[Lebanese Army Naval Academy]]
* [[Lebanese Marine Rescue Unit]]
* [[List of navies]]

== Notes ==
<references group="note" />
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<br />
{{Military of lebanon navbox}}
{{Asia topic|Navy of|title=Navies of Asia}}

[[Category:Military of Lebanon]]
[[Category:Navies by country|Lebanon]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1950]]