France Delivers Arms to Bolster Lebanon's Defensive Capabilities
Lebanon received on Monday the first shipment of $3 billion worth of French arms under a Saudi-financed deal to boost the country's defensive capabilities to combat terror threats, along its northeastern border in particular.
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who arrived in Lebanon on Sunday night and was welcomed by his Lebanese counterpart Samir Moqbel at Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport, reaffirmed in a brief speech the importance of preserving stability of Lebanon, pointing out that the army is paying the price of pressure enforced by terror groups
The ceremony was attended by Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri, French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli and other senior officials.
“The second batch of weapons will arrive in Lebanon next month,” Le Drian told reporters.
He revealed that around 60 French officers will also arrive in Lebanon to oversee the training of Lebanese troops and the implementation of the aid program.
The diplomat said that France will oversee the implementation of the Saudi deal over a timeframe of 10 years.
“We aim at modernizing and restructuring the security forces to enable it to enter a new era of leading military operations,” he noted.
Le Drian praised the Lebanese army's efforts to prevent terrorists from infiltrating the country, saying: “The army plays a significant role in Lebanon, in particular in its war against terrorism.”
“Lebanon is undergoing pressure by the Islamic State group and (al-Qaida-affiliate) al-Nusra Front, which constitutes a real challenge.”
For his part, Moqbel praised the efforts exerted by Lebanon's allies to bolster the capabilities of its army, in particular the United States.
Both officials hailed the endeavors exerted by former President Michel Suleiman to press forward the implementation of the deal, which was first announced during his tenure in 2013.
Asked about an Iranian pledge to offer aid to the Lebanese army, Moqbel said that the matter is in the hands of the cabinet, which is waiting for the U.N. Security Council to lift sanctions off Tehran.
“The Lebanese army is ready to accept any unconditional grant by any country,” the minister said.
"A victory for Lebanon against terrorism is a victory for all countries, near and far, who are threatened by terrorism," Moqbel added.
Asiri said the kingdom's financing came as "Lebanon faces more challenges than ever."
"The kingdom's gift will support the Lebanese army and legitimacy in Lebanon," he said.
"It is support for a legitimate army that ensures stability at a time when Lebanon faces security challenges."
Lebanon's allies are seeking to bolster the country's defenses against the Islamic State group and other jihadists pressing along its Syrian border.
France is expected to deliver 250 combat and transport vehicles, seven Cougar helicopters, three small Corvette warships and a range of surveillance and communications equipment over four years as part of the $3 billion (2.8 billion-euro) modernization program.
It is being entirely funded by Saudi Arabia, which is keen to see Lebanon's army defend its borders against jihadist groups, particularly the IS group and al-Nusra Front.
The contract also promises seven years of training for the 70,000-strong Lebanese army and 10 years of equipment maintenance.
Since the conflict in neighboring Syria broke out in 2011, Lebanon has faced mounting spill-over threats, first from the millions of refugees pouring across the border and increasingly from jihadists.
In August, the kingdom also offered another $1 billion in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.
Qahwaji later said that the French weapons are needed by the army during this stage and a necessity given the challenges it is facing.
Le Drian later met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
H.K.
M.T.
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