GCC Supports Riyadh on Halt to Lebanon Deals, Foreign Ministry Defends Decision
Gulf Cooperation Council states announced on Saturday their support for Saudi Arabia’s decision to stop its military aid to Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia announced on Friday it is halting deals worth $4 billion aimed at equipping and supporting the Lebanese army and security forces.
One deal involves a four-year, $3 billion Saudi pledge to buy French arms for the Lebanese military, which already has seen the country receive modern anti-tank guided Milan missiles last year. The other involves a $1 billion support deal for the police.
The decision came after Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil declined to support Saudi resolutions against Iran during two meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers. Bassil heads the Free Patriotic Movement, which is one of the strongest allies of the Iran-backed Hizbullah.
But the Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying Bassil’s stance came in accordance to the ministerial statement and in coordination with Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
It described ties between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia as “historic,” saying the foreign ministry led by Bassil was the first to condemn attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.
“The ministry will continue to express the stances of the Lebanese government and the interests of the Lebanese,” it added.
Saudi Arabia long has been suspicious of Iran, which also supports Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad. Relations took a turn for the worse at the start of the year, when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric and protesters stormed Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. That prompted Riyadh to cut diplomatic relations with Tehran.
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner, speaking to reporters in Washington, would not comment on the Saudi move but reiterated American support for the Lebanese military.
"We're going to continue our support to the Lebanese armed forces and security services with one objective in mind, which is to ensure that the army continues its role as a legitimate protector of Lebanon's borders, people, including from extremist threats," Toner said. "We've given some $1.4 billion since 2005, and that support will continue."
20 February 2016, 17:00
1011
Agree with you southern, enough blackmail from the GCC. They want to impose on us their filthy ideology and shut us up like they do in their countries.
20 February 2016, 18:16
99
Salafi people can go cry with the wahabis, I love when a few houthis scares you cowards.
20 February 2016, 18:15
107
It is time for the Army to cut the Saudis off, and seek new sponsership, Iran and Russia.
20 February 2016, 18:27
910
Iran never helped the Republic of Lebanon. They undermined it by arming and financing a Shi3a military group that serves Iran first. So no thank you Mystic.
20 February 2016, 19:31
94
Wikileaks reported the Saudi grants were unconditional.
I reported that Iran never gave anything to Lebanon or any other Arab country.
21 February 2016, 09:55
53
only good at deleting comments and talking about freedom of speech.
I asked you why doesn't abbas ibrahim a hebollah appointee ask your iran to equip the general security and he shall receive?
21 February 2016, 06:31
40
This is the worst government that Lebanon ever had. Never have the livelihoods of Lebanese everywhere been threatened in that way.
Waste in the streets threatens our health and waste in the foreign ministry threatens our economic well being.
This is what happens when ignorant uncultured barbarians take over and I don't mean only Hezbollah but look at who represents the Christians in Lebanon: a bunch of Donald Trump wannabes. The worst of the worst. Nassib Lahoud, God rest his soul, will not have a chance to be re-elected. We have sunk so low, so fast.
We are the ones who elected this filth, because we are bigoted idiots.
21 February 2016, 07:06
56
@nonabel. My Friend ( MF): You remind me so much of the Lord Jesus Christ. He too was so misunderstood, rejected, and finally persecuted. The only difference his persecution and crucifixion took place in the northeast of Jerusalem while yours is unfolding in front of our very own eyes on naharnet and in a southern Dahieh ( Suburb) of Virginia.
