Image source: topwar.ru
Currently, the Lebanese Navy has begun the latest activities in the framework of the restoration of the naval base in the port of Beirut, which was damaged during a devastating explosion in 2020. According to the commander of the Navy, Senior Captain Haissam Dannawi, in an interview with Breaking Defense, the main goal of the events is to restore such a naval base that would have everything necessary to carry out combat missions and the lives of military personnel.
Recall that on August 4, 2020, a fire broke out in a warehouse of ammonium nitrate in the port of Beirut, which led to an explosion of enormous force. As a result of the incident, more than 200 people were killed, many urban infrastructure facilities were destroyed, including the Beirut naval Base.
Now, with the help of a number of other States, Lebanon is completing work on the construction of a marine search and rescue center, which will be part of the base. Repair shops and residential buildings are also being restored. But the reconstruction of the base is a long process: only the first stage is planned to be completed by 2025.
In September 2022, the US Army Corps of Engineers began to assist in the restoration of the base. Its specialists expect to conclude a construction contract in the second quarter of 2024. But the issue may rest on the financial side: the crisis in Lebanon has significantly limited the ability of the armed forces to finance such events.
Nevertheless, the Lebanese Navy base is vital. After all, the fleet faces the task of ensuring the security of the country's exclusive economic zone. Lebanon's small fleet is counting on the help of Western powers in holding events.
European countries are also interested in increasing the capabilities of the Lebanese Navy in the context of combating terrorism and illegal migration. The command of the Lebanese Navy claims that after the construction of the base, many duties will fall on the shoulders of Lebanese servicemen. For example, they will have to guard promising gas exploration sites in the Mediterranean Sea.
In addition to the naval base, Lebanon is negotiating with Western countries on the acquisition of new ships. For example, Lebanon wants to buy four maritime patrol ships from France. Earlier, negotiations were held with Italy on the possible receipt of old Italian frigates as a gift. But both proposals are still under consideration.
