Naharnet

French Official Visits Beirut over Saudi Arms Grant

A French official was in Beirut last week to follow up with the Lebanese army leadership the delivery of French weapons under a Saudi grant, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The daily said the official's visit came amid a freeze in the delivery of more arms to Lebanon.

In April, Lebanon received the first shipment of the $3 billion worth of French arms under the Saudi-financed deal to boost the country's defensive capabilities to combat terror threats, along its northeastern border in particular.

According to al-Akhbar, French and Lebanese officials are implementing the technical aspect of the grant but Saudi Arabia has stopped financing the delivery of the rest of the arms.

But the daily said that French officials have appeased fears expressed by the army leadership, confirming that the agreement will continue to be implemented.

France is expected to deliver 250 combat and transport vehicles, seven Cougar helicopters, three small Corvette warships and a range of surveillance and communications equipment over four years as part of the $3 billion modernization program.

The contract also promises seven years of training for the 70,000-strong Lebanese army and 10 years of equipment maintenance.

Since the conflict in neighboring Syria broke out in 2011, Lebanon has faced mounting spill-over threats, first from the millions of refugees pouring across the border and increasingly from jihadists.

G.K.

D.A.


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