Assistance to Lebanese Armed Forces for countering Hezbollah and other terrorist groups

(a) In general The Secretary of Defense is authorized to provide assistance for training, equipment, and sustainment to vetted divisions of the Lebanese Armed Forces for purposes of— (1) taking meaningful steps to prevent Hezbollah, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and all United States-designated terrorist organizations in the territory of Lebanon from carrying out any attacks, operations, or hostile activities against United States interests and the interests of allies and partners of the United States; and (2) bolstering the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm Hezbollah completely. (b) Prioritization In allocating the funds authorized to be appropriated for the provision of assistance under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize the training and equipping of appropriately vetted special operations units and associated enabling forces of the Lebanese Armed Forces. (c) Availability of funds The total amount of funds used to provide assistance under subsection (a) may not exceed $36,000,000. (d) Notice before provision of assistance Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund, as specified in the funding table in section 4501, not more than five percent of such funds shall be obligated until the date on which the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that— (1) the Government of Lebanon has declared Hezbollah’s military activities illegal; (2) the Lebanese Armed Forces are acting in accordance with the goal of disarming Hezbollah completely; (3) the Lebanese Armed Forces are actively denying efforts, including by the Government of Iran, to send weapons, supplies, and financial support to Hezbollah; (4) the Lebanese Armed Forces are acting to prevent Hezbollah from threatening or attacking the neighboring countries of Lebanon; and (5) the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces is following and implementing directives of the Government of Lebanon regarding— (A) the establishment of a monopoly of force within Lebanon; and (B) the disarmament of Hezbollah. (e) Quarterly reports (1) In general Not later than March 31, 2027, and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that contains the following: (A) An explanation of the vetting process used by the Department of Defense to ensure the commitment of recipients of assistance under subsection (a) to the goals set forth in subsection (d). (B) An assessment of the willingness and capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront and disarm Hezbollah. (C) An assessment of the willingness and capacity of special operations units of the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront and disarm Hezbollah. (D) An assessment of any significant gaps in the capability of special operations units of the Lebanese Armed Forces to confront and disarm Hezbollah, if any, and a plan to close any such gaps, including metrics over time and an identification of required training and equipment. (E) For the preceding quarter— (i) information on the number and type of weapons the Lebanese Armed Forces have seized from Hezbollah; (ii) an assessment of the extent to which actions taken by the Lebanese Armed Forces against Hezbollah have degraded the capabilities of Hezbollah; and (iii) an assessment of the extent to which Iran has been able to maintain its support for Hezbollah. (F) An assessment of the threat posed by Hezbollah to Israel and Syria, and whether such threat has increased or decreased, as compared to the preceding quarter. (G) The number of personnel of the Lebanese Armed Forces who have been deployed in the counter-Hezbollah mission, and an assessment of whether the Lebanese Armed Forces have deployed sufficient troops to support such mission. (H) The number of special forces personnel recruited into the Lebanese Armed Forces and the confessional religious makeup of such forces. (I) With respect to the provision of assistance under this section to such special forces personnel— (i) the type and amount of training provided; (ii) a description of the equipment provided; and (iii) the number of training exercises conducted. (J) Any other information the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) Form Each report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. (f) Suspension of Department of Defense support to Lebanese Armed Forces (1) In general If the Secretary determines, in any of the quarterly reports required by subsection (e), that the Lebanese Armed Forces has the capability to make progress in confronting and disarming Hezbollah, but is unwilling to do so, or that the Lebanese Armed Forces is not acting against Hezbollah commensurate with the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Secretary shall— (A) suspend the provision of Department of Defense support to the Lebanese Armed Forces; and (B) not later than five business days after making such a determination, notify the congressional defense committees of the determination. (2) Inapplicability A suspension under paragraph (1) shall not apply to assistance provided under section 333 of title 10, United States Code. (g) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to constitute a specific statutory authorization for the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations in which hostilities are clearly indicated by the circumstances. (h) Termination The authority to provide assistance under this section shall cease to have effect on December 31, 2027.