PARIS: France will soon provide weapons and military equipment to the Lebanese army as part of a $3bn grant from Saudi Arabia to help it fight jihadists encroaching into Lebanon from Syria, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday.
One of the few institutions not overtaken by the sectarian divisions that plague Lebanon, the army has few resources to deal with the instability on its border and has been seeking to modernise its military hardware.
“All the work is done and the President (Francois Hollande) indicated yesterday to (Saad) Al Hariri that the conditions to fulfil the contract had been met,” Le Drian told parliament. “This is a necessity. The Lebanese army is the last barrier that exists against the security threats this country faces.”
Former prime minister Haririwas in Paris on Tuesday to meet Hollande. He said that another Saudi grant of $1bn for the Lebanese army had also been finalised. Le Drian said France would provide land, air and naval equipment.
Reuters
