Lebanese Commando Regiment

Lebanese Army Rangers
Lebanese Army Rangers Flag
Active	1966; 51 years ago (1966)
Country	Lebanon
Type	Commando Light Infantry Special Operations Forces
Role	Primary Tasks: • Direct Action • Humanitarian Missions
Size	2000
Part of	Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanese Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ	Ghassan Ramman military base, Roumieh
Nickname(s)	The Men's Department Guardians of the Cedar
Motto(s)	Rangers Lead The Way
Engagements	The War over Water Six-Day War Lebanese Civil War Battle of the Hotels Hundred Days' War Multinational Force in Lebanon 1982–1984 Mountain War War of the Camps Operation Dinnieh Global War on Terrorism (2001- Present) United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1978–present) January 2015 Shebaa farms incident Operation Benin 2006 Lebanon War Operation Nahr el Bared 2008 conflict in Lebanon 2010 Israel–Lebanon border clash 2013 Sidon clash Hanikra border clash Battle of Arsal North Lebanon Clashes (2014) Islamic State Attacks On Lebanese Army on Ras Baalbak
Decorations	Arab and non-Arab Military awards and decorations
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Maroun al-Qobayati
Notable commanders	General Youssef Tahan Major General François al-Hajj General Chamel Roukoz General Mahmoud Tay Abou-dargham Colonel Saleh Kays
Insignia
Shoulder badge
Commando Course Badge

Primary Tasks: • Direct Action

The Men's Department

General Youssef Tahan Major General François al-Hajj
General Chamel Roukoz
General Mahmoud Tay Abou-dargham

The Lebanese Army Rangers or Rangers Regiment also called Maghaweer (Arabic: فوج المغاوير Fawj al-Maghaweer‎‎) was founded in October 1966, is an elite light infantry and is considered the first special forces regiment in the Lebanese Armed Forces. The regiment is also a member of the Lebanese Special Operations Command and is the largest of the Lebanese special units.

The regiment was founded in October 1966 under the instructions of the commander-in-chief, General Emile Boustany. During the Lebanese Civil War, the regiment was divided among the different divided commands. A result of one of the divisions was the foundation of the counter-sabotage regiment or Al-Moukafaha.

The regiment has long been considered the only special unit and commando regiment among the other Lebanese Army regiments. However, with the introduction of the other special regiments, such as the Navy SEALs Regiment, this regiment is no longer considered as such. Nevertheless, the term "Maghaweer" still means to civilians the strongest unit that is available for the hardest tasks, and still refers to this specific regiment. The regiment is also the only parental formation in the Lebanese Army to include soldiers from all sects and regions of Lebanon in equal proportion, though Maronite and Eastern Orthodox are a slight majority in the officer corps, while Shi'a are a slight majority in the NCO corps.

According to Major General Mahmoud Tay Abou-Dargham, the founder of the regiment, the idea came to discussions in 1960 by the commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Emile Boustany. In 1966, the command took the decision and called after Captain Abou-Dargham who was ordered to start establishing a commando unit. The initial size was specified to be 250 soldiers, and thus Captain Abou-Dargham started the recruitment process to achieve that number. In addition to the recruited soldiers, trainer officers were chosen to conduct the training, among them Colonel Commando Makhoul Hakmé and Colonel Commando Nabih Farhat who followed commando courses at the Saika school in Egypt. The new unit was equipped with Beretta rifles from the army reserves, and dressed in a unique uniform.