French Arms Deliveries to Lebanon Early Next Year
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
France will begin shipping arms to the Lebanese army in the first quarter of next year, a defense ministry source in Paris said Wednesday, as part of a $3-billion deal financed by Saudi Arabia.
The shipment will consist of combat and transport helicopters, armored vehicles, anti-tank missiles and heavy artillery, the source added.
The deliveries will last around three years but French military will train their Lebanese counterparts in using the equipment over a 10-year period, the source said.
The deal, inked on Tuesday in Riyadh, comes as the poorly equipped Lebanese army battles jihadists, including Islamic State militants, both across its porous border with Syria and in its second city Tripoli.
Tripoli was rocked by three days of devastating fighting between troops and suspected Al-Qaida loyalists late last month that left at least 11 soldiers and five civilians dead.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius hailed the conclusion of the deal, first announced in December, as a major boost to the Lebanese army's ability to tackle "terrorism" at a time when the former French colony is under mounting threat.
In August, Saudi Arabia pledged a further $1 billion to strengthen the Lebanese army and last month Washington announced it had delivered a new shipment of Hellfire missiles and would also supply light aircraft.
06 November 2014, 04:39
45
He is a very disturbed individual that needs pity. I mean he is not very smart, his language is obvious, his attitude is obvious, his use of certain terms is obvious. He cannot stay away from this forum, it's his life.
06 November 2014, 11:33
43
gotta give him that, "terrorist" is always true to himself and his sectarian stench.
06 November 2014, 11:35
43
as for the arms, unsurprisingly, nothing that can be of any use against israel. no air defense system for instance.
06 November 2014, 13:13
33
(2). Continued......//Trust is built gradually, the army is gaining trust everyday from the people, more and more and more with every passing day, ask any citizen and the citizen will reply, "all we want is peace", once peace is established in all the Lebanese territory, confidence will shoot upwards in no time, and the trusted Lebanese acumen for business will rapidly return and bring back the country to prosperity. It all starts somewhere, and that starts with a strong army, respected and fully trusted.
06 November 2014, 13:13
33
(1). Any professional needs good tools to do a good work. A good army like ours needs prove nothing to no one anymore, it is a good army, an army that is loved and respected by all, now that the arms will start coming to Lebanon soon, the Lebanese Army will make our country a lot safer and viable. I am from now challenging anyone who wishes to say that it will shy away from exerting its authority in HA controlled areas, once the weapons come in, so will the army exert the state's authority over the land, all the land.
