Lebanese army (could have stopped Hizbolla): 70,000 vs Hezbollah: 3,500 including reserve forces

Excerpted from: Lebanese Security and the Hezbollah Anthony H. Cordesman Center for Strategic and International Studies

Working Draft, Revised: July 14, 2006

http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/060714_lebanese_security.pdf

#1 The Lebanese Army

The army had an authorized strength of about 70,000 men in 2006. Its order of battle had 11 mechanized infantry brigades, a Presidential Guard Brigade, a commando/Ranger Regiment, five Special Forces regiments, an air assault regiment, and two artillery regiments.

... The army is the only element of Lebanon's military forces with any serious potential war fighting capability against a well-organized military force. ...

#2 Hezbollah Military Forces in Lebanon

- Roughly 2,500-3,500 men, heavily dependent on part-time and irregular forces. Many are now highly experienced, often well-educated forces.

- Composed of a core of around 300 guerrillas. Has deliberately cut its force over the past years to prevent infiltration and leaks.

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