The Gazelle is a French-designed helicopter, created by the company Sud Aviation, that later became Aérospatiale, and later still Eurocopter.

In 1981 the air force received french "Gazelle" type helicopters which are very effective against tanks and armored vehicles.

The Gazelle is being used by the Lebanese Air Force against the terrorist group Fatah al-Islam during Operation Nahr el-Bared.