Lebanon: an end to conscription

According to an article in the Lebanese Daily Star, "Civil War-era military conscription has officially been relegated to the annals of Lebanese history. On February 10, the Lebanese Army officially became an all-volunteer force. Law 665/2005, which officially ended conscription in Lebanon, was passed by Parliament two years ago but did not wholly take effect until Saturday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an army spokesperson told The Daily Star on Monday that 'from this day on' the army would replenish its ranks with volunteers."

However, in the case of Lebanon too, the abolishment of conscription might just mean a modernisation of the Lebanon military, to meet "modern security threats".

Sources: The Daily Star, 13 February 2007