US Navy and Lebanon wrap up nine-day maritime exercise

US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Lebanese Armed Forces have completed a nine-day maritime exercise ashore and near the coast of Lebanon.

The Resolutie Union 2023 with counterparts from Egypt, France, Iraq, Jordan and the United Kingdom was concluded on 18 July.

This year’s iteration of the annual exercise focused on maritime awareness, operations, command and control, force protection and infrastructure defence. 

As explained, US personnel solely participated in Resolute Union as observers and trainers this year, enabling LAF partners to carry out training drills as a team and enhance their maritime capabilities in key areas.

“We have conducted Resolute Union many years in the past, but this year the US supported in an observer and trainer capacity,” said Lt. Cmdr. Antoni Wyszynski from US 5th Fleet’s task force for expeditionary combat operations, Task Force 56. “It is good to see how other partner nations are coming together to support Lebanese forces to develop interoperability and support maritime security.”

Resolute Union exercises have fostered collaboration between Lebanese and U.S. armed forces for 23 years. In 2022, 60 US service members conducted drills alongside their LAF counterparts on maritime security operations, mine countermeasures and explosive ordnance disposal.