Arms Shipments Under Saudi $1 Billion Grant Finalized
The Lebanese state has accomplished most of the contracts under a $1 billion aid by Saudi Arabia as a batch of the arms is expected to be handed over “soon” to security agencies.
A prominent security source stressed in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday that the Lebanese military finalized all the deals linked to its $500 million as a batch of light arms is “on its way” to be delivered.
“The heavy arms require more time as the procedures differ,” sources told the daily.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq told al-Mustaqbal that the Internal Security Forces' share of the Saudi grant is almost finalized.
“The arms are on the way,” he pointed out.
According to the sources, the arms will improve the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain stability amid a shaky security situation, in particular along its border with Syria.
In August, Saudi Arabia pledged a further $1 billion to strengthen the Lebanese army. Several countries, including the United States and France had pledged to deliver arms and military equipment to the Lebanese army to bolster its capabilities as the threat from jihadists in the region grows.
The Islamic State, which controls several areas in Syria and Iraq, aims to spread to Lebanon as its fighters position in the outskirts of Bekaa towns bordering Syria and the Lebanese army is in adamant efforts to stop their efforts to infiltrate the country.
Meanwhile, an official ceremony will take place on Monday as Jordan delivers a batch of arms to the Lebanese army.
Amman had delivered the arms shipment to the Lebanese authorities but the delay in announcing the shipment is due to the execution of Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh by the Islamic State militants earlier this month.
Kassasbeh was captured in December after his F-16 fighter jet went down in Syria.
H.K.
G.K.
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