Hale Inaugurates Tactical Training Facilities at ISF Academy

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale celebrated on Thursday the inauguration of a new tactical village and administrative and forensics building at the Internal Security Forces Academy in Aramoun, while reiterating his country's ongoing commitment to Lebanon.

He said during the ceremony: “These are difficult times for Lebanon. The spillover of terrorism and extremism from Syria, the presence of huge numbers of refugees in Lebanon.”

“These problems and others are serious challenges for Lebanon and for your partners, but America’s commitment to the Lebanese people remains as strong as ever,” he stressed.

“The facilities we are inaugurating today reflect America’s enduring commitment to Lebanon, and our enduring commitment to regional security,” continued Hale.

Since 2008, the United States has provided over $150 million dollars to train and equip the ISF through the State Department’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The tactical training village and this forensics building represent a $10.2 million investment by the American people in Lebanon’s security and its security services.

“We will continue to do our part to support your core institutions, like the ISF, so they can uphold order and security, protect the rights of individuals, help defend Lebanon against extremist threats, and preserve our shared values and ways of life,” said the ambassador.

“It is our hope that this facility will help shape a new generation of Lebanese law enforcement professionals who will set high standards of performance,” Hale remarked.

These facilities represent an investment of $10.2 million by the U.S. government in Lebanon’s security services.

After unveiling the inaugural plaque alongside ISF Director Major General Basbous, the ambassador toured the new facilities constructed with the support of the U.S. government.

He also observed training exercises in the tactical village, which were being run as part of the national leader protection course conducted with American support.

The tactical training village gives the ISF its first local capacity to conduct practical exercises in a variety of mock urban settings and helps poise the ISF Academy as regional hub for international police tactical training.