Army Receives New Shipment of U.S. Weapons
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The army received Saturday a shipment of weapons and ammunition as part of the U.S. military assistance program to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
“In the presence of a number of army officers and members of the U.S. defense cooperation bureau in Lebanon, the army's Logistics Brigade received at the Rafik Hariri International Airport a quantity of various arms and ammunition,” state-run National News Agency reported.
“This new batch is part of the U.S. assistance program to the Lebanese army and of the commitments and agreements signed between the two sides,” NNA added.
A similar shipment was delivered to the army on August 29 as part of U.S. military aid aimed at supporting the army in its combat of terrorism.
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale had said on the occasion: “Support for the Lebanese army and other security services is a top priority for the U.S.”
“Lebanon asks, and America delivers,” he added.
“On August 2, extremists attacked the northeastern border town of Arsal and on August 3, I met with (Army chief) General Jean Qahwaji and asked what the U.S. could do to help,” he explained.
The first shipment included 480 anti-tank guided missiles, more than 1,500 M16-A4 rifles, and several mortars, according to Hale, who promised at the time that more mortars, grenade launchers, machine guns, and anti-tank weapons will be arriving.
Deadly clashes broke out between the army and Islamist gunmen in Arsal on August 2 over the arrest of a member of the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front.
The fighting ended with a ceasefire on August 7 but the militants kidnapped around 35 troops and policemen.
The development prompted the U.S. to pledge to bolster the army, while Saudi Arabia unveiled a grant of one billion dollars dedicated to the military.
Y.R.
06 September 2014, 17:52
212
and not one brass bullet for the Lebanese Army. Hezbollah is maintained in Lebanon for the sake of Iran and Iranian interests, not for Lebanon. Sort of like a cancerous leach in a host body. It eats the nutrition meant for the host, and drives the health of the host body down until it kills it.
06 September 2014, 18:16
204
To be fair to the Iranians they made the same promises to the Iraqis, but only supported their sectarian militias. In fact after Al Maliki's army fled ahead of ISIL the Iranians screamed and yelled and threatened and promised but ultimately did nothing. Now month later the Americans got involved. The Iranians are like the next door neighbor who promises he's got your back. But when your back is on the sidewalk and you are getting pummeled by thugs he's safe up on his balcony screaming obscenity at them and threatening to break every bone in their body always from the balcony.
06 September 2014, 18:41
620
Thank you USA... Thank God the senile Senator McCain hasn't as much influence anymore. 1st he wants to arm the ISIS and Al Nusra, now he wants to attack them and full invasion. He still wants to arm the same people he also wants the Pentagon to attack.
Any real support to the lebanese army will only come through Apache helicopters from the US, the mi 24 attack helicopters russia promised 4 years ago or any of the 3 billion Saudi grant from france... Dont hold your breath.
06 September 2014, 19:00
00
Something is still better than the lip service, just like in 2007 lip service and complains about the American airlift of ammunition to the Lebanese army from nasrallah. Keep pushing FSA same as ISIS same as Al Nusra mantra ado.australia Bashar is proud of you. Sounds like the Aoun same as SLA same as Israel mantra previously popular amongst kowa al moumana2a.
06 September 2014, 20:14
00
obsolete weapons are better than no weapons of the 40 000 rockets ha gave the lebanese army exactly 0 in they fight against fateh islam
06 September 2014, 22:13
00
Ghadanfar.f: If they were really supporting Lebanon and the Lebanese armed forces, why they don't send them to the Lebanese Army instead of the resistance?
07 September 2014, 01:14
10
Iran supports my ass in Bull S. and drones above Dr Ja3Ja3 to indirectly intimidate those who they could not kill by snipers and car bombs via Assad Mukhabarat and Hezbollah-Baath on the ground.
07 September 2014, 01:14
02
Surveillance Drones? How about we promise not to use them on our border with future-friendly-Israel?
07 September 2014, 07:02
10
Thank you flamethrower and blablabla for your votes of confidence and for making fools out of yourselves.
