Lebanon receives new US arms shipment

Lebanon received a new U.S. shipment of military vehicles, weapons and ammunition on Sunday, as part of Washington's pledge to aid the Lebanese military in its combat against terrorism, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

The Lebanese army was handed 70 M198 howitzers, a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, and 26 million rounds of ammunition. In a statement, the U.S. embassy in Lebanon said the aid is worth 25 million U.S. dollars.

"Support for the Lebanese military remains a top priority for the United States. Recent attacks against Lebanon's army only strengthen America's resolve to stand in solidarity with the people of Lebanon to confront these threats," the embassy said.

It added that the United States is providing Lebanon with "top of the line weapons" for its anti-terrorist campaigns.

The last shipment of ammunition as part of the U.S. military assistance program was in late January. The arms were delivered as several allies of Lebanon have stepped up efforts to counter the growing threats from jihadists in the region.

In 2014, Lebanon was the fifth largest recipient of U.S. foreign military aid, the embassy said. "In 2014 alone, the United States provided over 100 million U.S. dollars to the (Lebanese military)," the U.S. embassy's statement said, adding such assistance since 2006 has reached one billion dollars.

ARMS DEAL WITH FRANCE

Also on Sunday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam that the first shipment of French weapons, part of a three-billion U.S. dollar deal, is expected to arrive in Lebanon in April.

Fabius' statement was made during a meeting with Salam on the sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference, said NNA.

"France is keen to support Lebanon and safeguards its security, stability and unity and fortify its state institutions," Fabius told the Lebanese PM.

Saudi Arabia last year announced it would give the Lebanese army three billion dollars to purchase weapons and equipment from France, but that deal has yet to be fully implemented.

In August, the kingdom offered another one billion dollars in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.

Lebanon's army has been confronting fundamentalist gunmen from the al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) since August when they overrun the eastern border town of Arsal.

Lebanon has also been gripped by months of political gridlock. The country has been without a president since May 25th when the tenure of former President Michel Suleiman ended. The parliament has failed for dozens of times to elect a new head of state due ot lack of the constitutionally required quorum.

Lebanon received a new U.S. shipment of military vehicles, weapons and ammunition on Sunday, as part of Washington's pledge to aid the Lebanese military in its combat against terrorism. [Photo/Xinhua]

Lebanon received a new U.S. shipment of military vehicles, weapons and ammunition on Sunday, as part of Washington's pledge to aid the Lebanese military in its combat against terrorism. [Photo/Xinhua]

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