Doesn't Lebanon Have an Air Force? or Anti-Aircraft Weaponry?

[On the Road]

It's been suggested that the Lebanese Army join the fight against Israel. But I have to think that would be a colossal mistake that would likely trigger a full-scale ground invasion.

What puzzles me is that I haven't read about any resistance to the air strikes. Do the Lebanese have any military capability to counter the IDF attacks -- fighter planes, anti-aircraft missiles? Resistance would make the air strikes more difficult and even a single hit would be a moral victory.

It would seem like a natural capability for even a small military to have in that region. Is it too expensive, or do they have anti-aircraft batteries in the wrong locations? As much as I understand Lebanon's desire to avoid a full-scale land invasion, it seems suicidal to allow the Israel air force free reign.

[The Deacon]

1. After Decades of Civil War

Lebanon, as a country, has the military capability of a Cub Scout Den. When the whole infrastructure of your country is broken & the main struggle of most of your citizenry is the daily struggle for food, surface to air missiles & fancy fighter jets are a luxury you can't afford.

[On the Road]

5. Actually, It Appears They Do Have Some Capability

The French Mirage fighters are a little old, but at the time they were state-of-the-art:



http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/English/AirforceMain.asp#album

[umtalal]

2. NO. Usrael won't allow it. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Air Force - not much; their military airbase was an early Israeli target

Today, the Lebanese Air Force has no real fixed wing capability. The few fighter aircraft they possess are old and outdated planes that have no combat value. Instead the Air Force has invested in helicopters with limited firepower and survivability. These aircraft are also bound to fair weather conditions because of their limited capability. Their continued operations are still heavily concentrated on domestic operations, primarily narcotics trafficking and other criminal violations.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/lebanon/airforce.htm

Israeli aircraft fire at fuel tanks at Beirut's Rafik al-Hariri International Airport. Aircraft also bomb runways there and strike two military airbases.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13787273.htm

And it doesn't seem to have anti-aircraft missiles either:

With 38,000 soldiers, it is a small conventional army designed to keep the peace on Lebanese soil.

But it is ill-equipped for the job, says former Lebanese army general Amin Hoteit.

The army lacks basic military equipment - such as anti-aircraft missile defences - to fight Israel. The Lebanese air force has no jets and the navy no warships.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5205930.stm

[On the Road]

6. Thank You.

That explains the situation pretty well.

[riverwalker]

4. no air defense

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/lebanon/airforce.htm

A few old outdated fighters not combat ready, and some helicopters.

[Karmakaze]

7. They do have some light AAA weapons...

Thats Anti-Aircraft Artillery, such as truck mounted 23mm cannon, but such weapons are fairly short ranged and can only hit aircraft at lower altitudes. Basically these weapons are pretty much useless in the age of modern guided aircraft weapons. An Israeli jet can fire a missile from far outside the reach of these types of guns.

Even if they did have SAM's (Surface to Air Missiles) though, they would be unlikely to be much of a deterrent. Such weapons are only as good as your air defence radar network, and such radars are the very first target for air strikes. Iraq, for example had a very extensive air defense network, but thanks to modern anti-radar missiles, it didn't last long.

In reality the only true defense against modern high-tech aircraft are other modern high-tech aircraft.