PHOTOS BY LEBANESE ARMED FORCES
In a flurry of helicopter blades and dangling rappelling ropes, Lebanese commandos demonstrated storming a hijacked ship in the Mediterranean Sea.
The display of military skill was one of several land, sea and air operations that engaged Lebanese and United States naval forces at the Resolute Union 26 exercise in October 2025.
Focused largely on counterterrorism, the exercise was designed to boost the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces to defend its territorial waters and coastline.
The Lebanese Navy played a leading role at Resolute Union with participation from the Lebanese Air Force, Military Police and engineering and commando units. The Joint Maritime Force of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which has helped the Lebanese Navy patrol its coastline since 2006, also took part.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) provided personnel and ships for the exercise under the supervision of Task Force 56, which trains with regional partners on such capabilities as explosive ordnance disposal, diving, and visit, board, search and seizure.
The U.S. Army and Coast Guard also contributed to Resolute Union 26.
“Resolute Union 26 allowed us to exchange knowledge, build capacity and strengthen interoperability with our Lebanese Navy partners,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Reitter, commander of Task Force 56. “Training together across multiple mission sets enhances teamwork and our combined maritime security capabilities.”
The scenarios encompassed maritime security training. Commandos intercepted a ship hijacked by terrorists. Warships practiced naval gunnery. Medical troops evacuated wounded colleagues by helicopter for treatment by the Lebanese Red Cross.
At the finale of the exercise, in the northern Lebanese coastal community of Hannoush-Hamat, Lebanese forces demonstrated eliminating a terrorist cell before an audience of dignitaries that included Lebanese Acting Army Commander Maj. Gen. Hassan Odeh and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Lebanon Keith Hanigan.
The previous iteration of Resolute Union was held in July 2023. Its occurrence every two years reinforces cooperation and builds rapport between U.S. and Lebanese forces.