French Delegation in Lebanon to Finalize Weapons Deal
A French delegation arrived in Lebanon for a number of meetings with related officials to finalize the specific military needs of the Lebanese army under the Saudi grant.
The delegation comprises 30 representatives of the French state and the military industry and they are in Lebanon to finalize what kind of arms its army needs from the Saudi grant's remaining 150-300 million dollars, the An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.
The daily revealed that “the delegation was able so far to specify the kind of arm supplies needed for the ground, navy and air brigades.”
France will provide the military with the arms it needs at the current stage and what is compatible with its requirements in the future.
It will provide it with two kinds of helicopters, two kinds of military battleships and several ground-to-ground missiles, air-to-air missiles in addition to short and medium-range missiles, the daily said.
France and Saudi Arabia signed the agreement at the beginning of November for Paris to provide the Lebanese military with the $3 billion worth of weapons paid for by Riyadh.
The deal, which was first announced last year December, aims to boost the army as it struggles to contain a rising tide of violence linked to the civil war in Syria.
D.A.
G.K.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/156813 |