Qahwaji Urges France to Speed Up Weapons Delivery
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Army chief General Jean Qahwaji urged France on Tuesday to speed up the delivery of weapons under a Saudi-financed deal, as his troops battle jihadists on the Syrian border.
"This battle requires equipment, materiel and technology that the army doesn't have," Qahwaji told Agence France Presse.
"That's why we need to speed up the delivery of the necessary military aid by finalizing the list of weapons requested from France under a Saudi-financed deal backed by the Rome conference to support the army," he said.
Last December, Saudi Arabia agreed to finance a $3 billion deal to purchase military equipment and weapons from France for the army, which has long complained of being sorely under-equipped.
And in mid-June, at an international conference in Rome, the international community pledged its backing for the Lebanese military.
But talks on the list of material to be furnished to the army under the Saudi-French deal have yet to be finalized.
Qahwaji's request came as the Lebanese army battles jihadists in the northeastern border region of Arsal.
He warned that "the situation in Arsal is dangerous."
"The battle that the army is undertaking in the mountains of Arsal is just one in a series of confrontations against terrorism in all its forms and wherever it is," he added.
At least 16 soldiers have been killed in the Arsal fighting, including two officers, according to security sources, and the army said 22 troops are missing, possibly taken hostage.
Another 20 policemen are also missing, security sources say, and 86 soldiers have been wounded.
"The army's fight against the takfiris (extremists) is continuing and the army is determined to recover the missing soldiers," Qahwaji said.
The fighting in Arsal erupted on Saturday after soldiers arrested a man accused of belonging to al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate, Al-Nusra Front.
05 August 2014, 12:51
34
to saudi arabia: speed up the delivery of weapons
to the chief: how abt you stop acting like iran's puppy to make it to presidency
so funny, btw u, aoun and frangieh competing, no wonder HA wants to keep the presidency void
the sad thing is, we are all paying for ur idiotic and selfish deeds
05 August 2014, 22:37
10
Institute national draft and a national reserve and spend the money to have a real army. Disarm all militias including the Hizb that brought us the disaster we have been living in.
05 August 2014, 14:16
42
funny how ksa weapons will be used to kill sunni civilians and refugees... Qahwaji could and should be prosecuted for violating Geneva convention... Jeannot ready to die anything for a seat in Baabda...
05 August 2014, 17:05
22
lol jerry, his alter ego is responding;) you hit a nerve right there.
05 August 2014, 15:57
13
a 6 billion military donation for sure will not happen, a 3 billion will.
05 August 2014, 16:26
52
anonymetexasusa... Man, what are you talking about? Shoo khas Hezballah? Unbelievable how you come up with this most unrelated comment. I'm talking about the LAF...the "Lebanese Armed Forces" that are being martyred! Killed defending Lebanon from foreigners killing Lebanese security and civilians!
Who are you?
05 August 2014, 16:56
41
We don't need the Saudis to fund the LAF, all that is needed is for them to stop funding the ones killing our soldiers.
05 August 2014, 17:04
23
mowaten aka cityboy, sure we don't need the Saudi military donation because your hizb and iran are fully funding all our military needs;)
05 August 2014, 17:09
23
@anony, these sectarians want the LAF to be weak, poorly armed, and reduced to traffic police.
05 August 2014, 17:17
41
wait eagledown, didn`t you claim that the LAF is a tool of HA. So why would we `sectarians` want to weaken the LAF. please explain smart one.
05 August 2014, 17:19
31
anonytex, don`t you ever get that feeling that you need a break from here. Maybe this is an ideal time for you to go to Gaza and help build some of the bunkers you keep preaching Hamas needs to build.
05 August 2014, 17:22
21
no rhetoric just a timeline
November 16, 2010
Russia will offer Lebanon six combat helicopters, 31 tanks and 36 artillery pieces complete with ammunition and shells, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced late Monday from Moscow.. Hariri who headed a delegation of ministers, highlighted the importance of security and military ties between Russia and Lebanon. said after talks with Russian Prime
January 12 2011
Minutes after Hariri posed for pictures with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, the opposition parties resigned from the cabinet, as an objection for the inability of the government to take detrimental decisions, causing his unity government to collapse.
Jan 24, 2011
Hezbollah and its allies will nominate former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, a billionaire businessman, to head Lebanon’s next government after they toppled the coalition led by Saad Hariri. Karami declined to be nominated citing his age and health..
05 August 2014, 18:59
11
@citymowaten, please i urge you to show me where and when did i say that... yallah ya shatir.
06 August 2014, 01:16
00
The Irony of life. Saudi directly or indirectly sponsoring both sides in the conflict...
06 August 2014, 07:45
00
Let's hope cheikh Saad al-Haribi Telteyn al-Marajil can lend his private jet to carry some of these ne2ayfet and expedite their delivery. Don't forget the pebbles, though.
