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Lebanon

Status of the embargoOngoing
EntityState
Organisation(s) imposing embargo(es)UN & EU
Restriction(s)Conventional weapons
ExceptionsYes, no prior notification or approval
Yes, prior approval
Yes, prior notification

Lebanon is currently under UN and EU arms embargoes.

UN

Lebanon has been under UN arms embargo since august 2006 (Resolution 1701 (2006)). Sanctions have not been lifted nor amended to date.

  1. Conventional weapons 

Prohibitions 

The current sanctions regime, as detailed in Resolution 1701 (2006), decides that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent:

  • the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories (Resolution 1701 (2006), para.15, a).
  • the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of the items aforementioned (Resolution 1701 (2006), para.15, b).

Exceptions 

However, the regime provides for one exception, requiring prior approval from the Lebanese government or the United Nations Intermediate Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) :

Others 

The UN arms embargo is indefinite.

Lebanon is also under EU arms embargo.

EU

Lebanon has been under EU arms embargo since September 2006 (Common Position 2006/626/CFSP). Sanctions have not been lifted nor amended to date. 

  1. Conventional weapons 

Prohibitions 

The current sanctions regime, as detailed in Common Position 2006/625/CFSP and in the updated version of Regulation 1412/2006, prohibits :

  • the direct or indirect sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts (…) to any entity or individual in Lebanon by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States (Common Position 2006/625/CFSP, article 1, para.1).
  • the provision of technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to military activities and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related materiel of all types, as well as financial assistance related to military activities (Common Position 2006/625/CFSP, article 1, para.2, a and b, and Regulation 1412/2006, art.2, para. a et b).

Exceptions 

However, the sanctions regime provides for several exceptions.

No prior approval or notification required:

  • the provision of technical assistance, financing and financial assistance related to military activities and to arms or related matériel, to the UNIFIL(Regulation 1412/2006, art3, para.2 and Common Position 2006/625/CFSP, art. 2, para.1, c).

Requiring prior approval from the Lebanese government or the United Nations Intermediate Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) :

  • the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel aforementionned  which are for the use by the United Nations Interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the performance of its mission or by the Lebanese armed forces (Common Position 2006/625/CFSP, art. 2, para.1, b and c).

Requiring prior notification to the Lebanese government or the United Nations Intermediate Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) :

  • the provision to the armed forces of the Lebanese Republic of technical assistance related to military activities and to arms or related matériel, and of financing and financial assistance related to military activities, unless the Government of Lebanon raises any objection within 14 days after the receipt of a notification. (Regulation 1412/2006, art.3, para.1, b).

Requiring prior approval and notification from/to the Lebanese government or the United Nations Intermediate Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) :

  • The sale, supply, transfer, export of arms and related materiel, as well as the provision of technical and financial assistance related, to end-users in Lebanon other than the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL personnel (Regulation 1412/2006, art.3, para.1, a). However, these items and services must not be supplied to any militia for whose disarmament the UN Security Council has called in its Resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006) (Regulation 1412/2006, art.3, para.1, a, i and Common Position 2006/625/CFSP, art. 2, para.1, a).

Others 

The EU sanctions regime is reviewed on a yearly basis by the EU Council, and is indefinite.

Lebanon is also under UN arms embargo.

Restrictions diagram :

Conventional weapons