Report: First Shipment of French Arms Included Undeclared Quantities
The first shipment of French weapons to the Lebanese army under a Saudi-financed deal included double the amount that was revealed to the public, An Nahar newspaper reported on Friday.
Ministerial sources told the daily that the real number of Milan rockets was double the amount revealed, in addition to advanced weapons that were not announced for military purposes.
The first batch also included military armored vehicles, the sources said.
They considered that the aid to the Lebanese army enables it to engage in battles to preserve stability in the country and along its eastern border, when necessary.
On Monday, Lebanon received 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.
Lebanon's allies are seeking to bolster the country's defenses against the Islamic State group and other jihadists pressing along its Syrian border.
In August, the kingdom also offered another $1 billion in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.
The Lebanese army is generally seen as a unifying force in Lebanon, and draws its ranks from all of the country's sects.
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