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The political and military situation in Lebanon is becoming more and more volatile, notably aggravated by the Beirut port explosion in 2020. The country does not suffer from significant levels of arms and ammunition trafficking[1], but it remains heavily contaminated with landmines and other types of unexploded ordnance from past conflicts.[2]

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the Small Arms Survey are on the ground to help with the through-life management of ammunition by working with the Lebanese Ministry of Defence. Efforts have included the construction and upgrade of ammunition storehouses, mine clearance, Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) trainings with national forces, technical assessments on prior interventions, and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) efforts.[3]


[1] “Guns in Lebanon.” Gun Law and Policy: Firearms and armed violence, country by country. Accessed June 24, 2022. https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/lebanon.

[2]

“Lebanon: Impact.” Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor, 2021. www.the-monitor.org/en-gb/reports/2020/lebanon/impact.aspx.  

[3] See A-MAP Database.

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Map of Lebanon

Further information

Accidental explosions

Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, numerous accidental explosions were reported in Lebanon (Table 1).

Table. 1 Accidental explosions in Lebanon (1979-2021)

Year

Location

Owner/manager

Deaths

Injuries

2021

Bourj el-Chemali

Non-state (actor)

N/A

N/A

2020

Beirut

N/A

190+

6000+

2020

Ain Qana

Non-state (actor)

0

0

2012

Tripoli

Non-state (actor)

N/A

3

2012

Baalbek

Non-state (actor)

3

4

2012

Tair Harfa

Non-state (actor)

3

N/A

2011

Siddiqine

Non-state (actor)

0

0

2010

Al Tayri

foreign (peacekeeping)

0

11

2010

Shehabiyya

Non-state (actor)

N/A

N/A

2009

Khirbet Selm

Non-state (actor)

N/A

N/A

2009

Tayr Filsi

Non-state (actor)

5

N/A

2005

Majadel

Non-state (actor)

0

0

2005

Majadel

Non-state (actor)

0

0

Source: Small Arms Survey. n.d. Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS). Database; AMAT. “AMAT Insights: Reducing Risks Associated with Ammonium Nitrate.” Published in September 2020.

Cases of diversion

Some cases of diversion have been reported since 2000 in Lebanon (Table 2).

Table 2: Cases of diversion of arms, ammunition, and explosives in Lebanon since 2000

Year

Location

Description

2012

Beirut

More than 90 machine guns were stolen from the Army depot, in addition to large quantities of ammunition.

Source: “Lebanese Army Weapons Stolen.” SP's MAI - Military, Aerospace and Internal Security, November 16, 2012. https://www.spsmai.com/internal-security/?id=1815&q=Lebanese-Army-weapons-stolen.

Disposal

Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.  

Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Lebanon.

Needs

Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.

No needs have been reported for Lebanon.[1]


[1] PoA Report 2008, Lebanon. Please note that PoA reports focus on SALW and not specifically on ammunition. https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/poa-reports-le/2008%40109%40Lebanon.pdf

Published Date: Wednesday 31 of August 2022