Ibrahim Tannous

Ibrahim Tannous (1929 – December 26, 2012) was a former commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. General Tannous earned a reputation for honesty and was seen as “a general willing to get his uniform dirty to build a fighting Lebanese Army,” in the words of one Arab authority. Gen. Tannous took over command of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in December 1982, during the early years of the civil war and oversaw joint operations with the Multinational Force that was in charge of training LAF forces and restoring order to Beirut. Gen. Tannous, who is close to President Gemayel, resigned his post as armed forces commander in June 1984 as a concession to government's opposition factions who were calling for restructuring the army and was succeeded by Michel Aoun. Until Gen. Tannous' resignation, the army was one of the most important institution supporting the U.S.-backed Gemayel Government, however, Tannous' departure marked a major shift in the American-trained armed forces towards a policy closely in tune with Syria's foreign policy and security objectives.
Personal life
Born in Kobayat, Akkar, Lebanon in 1929, was married and had four children.
Military career
Enrolled in the Military Academy as a Cadet Officer on 10/16/1952
Promoted to second lieutenant on 10/1/1955
Promoted to first lieutenant on 10/1/1958
Promoted to captain on 1/1/1965
Promoted to major on 1/1/1969
Promoted to lieutenant colonel of Staff on 7/1/1972
Promoted to colonel of staff on 1/1/1980
Promoted to general of staff on 12/8/1982
Promoted to lieutenant general on 12/8/1982
Functions
Assigned to 4th artillery regiment on 8/1/1956
Assigned to the Military Academy (Deputy Trainer) on 9/1/1957
Reinstated to the 4th artillery regiment on 8/1/1958
Assigned to the general Headquarters – 4th Bureau on 10/1/1958
Was assigned to the 5th artillery battalion- commander of battalion, on 6/4/1962
Was assigned to the 2nd artillery regiment, artillery brigade (deputy-commander of
regiment) on 1/25/1966
Appointed commander of artillery regiment on 7/3/1968
Appointed chief of the 4th Bureau per Interim, as from 5/21/1965 to 8/16/1970
Appointed Deputy Chief of the 4th Bureau on 8/17/1970
Appointed chief of the Co-operative service at the Social Affairs directorate on 10/4/1971
Appointed chief of the Finance control Office at the directorate of Administrative Control on 4/21/1972
Was assigned to the region of North Lebanon on 7/21/1973
Was assigned to the HQ of the infantry brigade- Chief of Staff of brigade on 8/1/1973
Was assigned to the independent anti-tanks company (artillery commander) on 8/3/1974
Was transferred to the company of the Bekaa regional district - regional deputy to the commander of the region on 7/18/1974
Was detached to the Beirut region Command as from 9/16/1974 to 9/26/1974
Appointed Deputy to the Commander of the Bekaa region on 12/21/1974
Was detached to command by Interim, the Eastern defense Sector, on 2/28/1975
Assigned to the HQ Battalion of the 1st infantry brigade- Chief of Staff of the brigade on 8/18/1975
Assigned to the Army Headquarters Battalion as Chief of the Studies, organization and planning Office on 8/30/1975
Assigned to the Sector No. 3 / Unit 31 as commander of the group on 3/15/1978
Appointed Armed Forces Commander on 12/8/1982
Was released from his duty as the Armed Forces Commander, on his request, and was put at the disposition of the minister of National Defense on 6/23/1984
Transferred to pension on 7/1/1988
Courses inside the country
Enhancement Training Course for officers from 7/16/1968 to 9/28/1968
4 months course in Italian language at the Italian cultural center as from 11/8/1971
Complementary course for officers from 5/7/1968 to 7/13/1968
Rank upgrading course from 5/17/1979 to 10/27/1979
Courses outside the country
Training Course in France from 10/8/1955 to 8/18/1956
Training Course in Italy from 9/26/1972 to 7/2/1975
Medals, awards and honors
Medal for battle wounds
Lebanese order of Merit in Silver
National order of the Cedar in Class of knight
Commemorative Medal of 12/13/1961
National order of the cedar in Officer Class
Lebanese Order of Merit with branches in Second Class
War Medal, two times
National Order of the Cedar, Class of Commander
National order of Merit in Grand Cordon Class
Lebanese Order of Merit in First Class
Commendation of the Minister of National Defense, one time
Commendation of the Armed Forces Commander, two times
Felicitations of the Armed Forces Commander, 3 times
References
Lebanese military personnel
1929 births
2012 deaths
Lebanese Maronites
People of the Lebanese Civil War