Qahwaji Visits Riyadh on Official Visit to Discuss Saudi Donation to Military Institution

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji on Friday left for Saudi Arabia on an official visit to discuss the kingdom's grant to the military institution.

"Qahwaji received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia and he will discuss with Saudi officials the country's support and grant to the army,” reported the state-run National News Agency.

"A military delegation accompanied the army chief on his visit,” the NNA added.

Qahwaji was in Paris earlier this month for talks with top French military officials two weeks after President Michel Suleiman announced a Saudi pledge of $3 billion to buy military equipment from France.

Suleiman had revealed in late December that Saudi Arabia has decided to donate three billion dollars with the aim of purchasing French weapons for the Lebanese army as soon as possible.

French President Francois Hollande, who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia during Suleiman's announcement, said his country would "meet" any requests from Lebanon.

Officials concerned with Lebanese affairs in the French administration told Naharnet on January 20 that the Saudi donation will include weaponry used for military and security sources to enable troops to face terrorist and security challenges in the country, and arms and equipment to monitor the border.

Comments 5
Thumb cedre 31 January 2014, 19:58

Qahwaji and Sleiman are pretending they need french weapons to disarm HA.
But it's BS, coz HA is a guerrila thus using asymetrical and urban warfare.
It cant be fought with conventional weapons like tanks, IFV, atgw or artillery except maybe to destroy their vast hangars and weapons warehouses. HA wont go for frontal confrontation, they just need to divide their weapons stocks in urban areas and wait for the LAF.
LAF wont come coz they know they'll have civilians around blocking them. Also HA will use IED against LAF patrols. Just look at what taliban did against 100k+ ISAF troops...

Thumb cedre 01 February 2014, 00:48

tbh no, i think that will be done progressively with a change in balance of power with Assad's fall. HA's weapons will become less present in lebanese political life. Also HA will have to give up its wilayat faqih strategy...

Missing VINCENT 01 February 2014, 04:32

It will be battles of Biblical proportions to end this mutiny.

Thumb -phoenix1 31 January 2014, 20:34

To those who still want to cast doubt, you are served.

Default-user-icon hal (Guest) 01 February 2014, 00:21

hollande sir, thank you and keep up the good work. i hope for the best. hal and saudi arabia.. thank you as well.