Military Official: More U.S. Arms Delivered to Lebanon

The United States has delivered more weapons to the Lebanese army as part of the program aimed at assisting the military to confront terrorist organizations, a high-ranking military official said.

The official, who was not identified, said that the delivery of the new batch of heavy weapons is a sign that “Washington has confidence in the capabilities of the military institution and its performance after its success in the battles and the operations it carried out lately.”

“The army was recently able to impose security, pursue terrorist groups and paralyze their movements,” the official told al-Joumhouria newspaper published Thursday.

“We no longer hear of the movement of terrorist groups or acts that tamper with national security,” he said.

In late May, the U.S. delivered over 200 TOW-II Missiles and dozens of launchers to the Lebanese army.

The assistance was valued at over $10 million and jointly funded by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Since August 2014, America has provided the Lebanese army with $82.5 million of weapons and ammunition.

Ambassador David Hale said following talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam last week that the U.S. will continue to be the Lebanese army’s steadfast and foremost security partner.

Since 2006, Washington has provided more than $1 billion in security assistance and critical training, he said.

G.K.

D.A.