Jones Says U.S. to Keep Providing Lebanon with Security Aid, Intel

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Richard Jones met Wednesday with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Machnouq as part of his courtesy meetings with various ministers, reassuring that Washington will continue to provide Lebanese security agencies with assistance and “information.”

“We exchanged views on the situation. Of course we're all very concerned, seized I would say, with the security situation,” Jones said after the meeting.

“I assured the Minister that the United States would stand by Lebanon. We will continue to provide support for the security services of the country, in terms of training and equipment, and also information,” he added.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama also vowed continued support for Lebanon.

The U.S. remarks come amid a major security crackdown in the country that was launched in the wake of twin suicide blasts in the southern Beirut suburb of Bourj al-Barajneh that killed 43 people and wounded 239 others.

The bombings, among the worst in years, were claimed by the jihadist Islamist State group, which has recently claimed responsibility for a series of attacks around the world, most notably the unprecedented assault in the French capital Paris.

Y.R.