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Lebanon army receives $11m in US military aid

April 4, 2019 at 9:34 am

Lebanese soldiers stand guard at the Lebanon-Syria border [Sleiman Amhaz/Anadolu Agency]

Lebanon’s army yesterday announced that it had received six drones worth $11 million from the United States (US).

In an official statement, the Lebanese forces explained that the shipment was part of a US military assistance package that was agreed last year.

“On Tuesday, we [Lebanese military] received six American drones at the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport,” the army said, noting that the planes were worth $11 million.

The drones were received in the presence of a number of Lebanon’s senior military officers, as well as a number of representatives from the US Embassy in Beirut, according to the statement.

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In mid-February, the US delivered a shipment of laser-guided smart missiles, valued at more than $16 million, to the Lebanese military. Local officials said at the time that the US move was demonstrating what they described as “Washington’s firm and steady commitment to Lebanon’s army.”

In addition, the Lebanese Air Force received a fleet of four A-29 Super Tucano attack aircrafts on 12 June 2018 as part of the American aid.

Since 2005, the US has supplied the Lebanese military with more than $2.3 billion in assistance, aiming to support it as “the sole, legitimate defender” of a country where the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah holds major sway.