International powers promise to help Lebanon’s crisis-hit army

Lebanese army chief warns of ‘critical’ situation during French-led virtual meeting.

A number of countries have promised to provide Lebanon’s army with emergency aid to prevent its collapse in the face of the deepest political and economic crisis afflicting the nation – although they did not provide details on the assistance offered. Lebanese Army Chief Joseph Aoun told Thursday’s virtual meeting of world powers, which was organised by France, that the nation faced dire consequences if the country’s crises persisted and military salaries continued to tumble. “How can a soldier support a family with a salary that does not exceed $90?” he said in a video, published on the army’s Twitter account.