From lighthouse projects and coastal radar stations

Lebanon has been on the brink of collapse even before the catastrophic explosion in Beirut harbour. The German government's modernisation initiative is intended to help the country rebuild its lost capabilities.

The cedar state on the Mediterranean really doesn't have it easy in the conflict between its neighbours Israel and Syria. A 15-year civil war (1975-90), mismanagement and corruption, several external invasions - most recently in 2006 - and then the devastating explosion in the harbour of the capital Beirut in August last year have all taken their toll on the Lebanese Republic. Bilateral and international support is trying to save the former Switzerland of the Middle East from collapse and at the same time guarantee a certain degree of security. For example, the ships of the Maritime Task Force (MTF) Unifil have been operating off the coast of Lebanon since 2006. As part of the current UN force of almost 11,000 troops, the MTF is tasked with supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in monitoring its territorial waters, securing the Lebanese coast and preventing the smuggling of weapons.