France Seeking to Deliver Used Weapons to Lebanese Army
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
French authorities are seeking to provide the Lebanese army with used weapons under a $3 billion deal financed by Saudi Arabia, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Saturday.
According to the daily, Paris claims that the arms demanded by Lebanese military experts provoke Israel but the actual reason behind the delay in delivering the weapons is because Lebanon refuses to be granted used military equipment.
Media reports said recently that restrictive conditions by Saudi Arabia has delayed the Lebanese army's purchase of French weapons despite a denial by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri.
The fighting between the Lebanese army and jihadists in the northeastern border town of Arsal, which erupted on August 2, prompted army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji to urge France to speed up the delivery of weapons.
His appeal was followed by the announcement of ex-Premier Saad Hariri of a new $1 billion in Saudi aid.
H.K.
D.A.
16 August 2014, 08:15
60
Forget about the Israel objections, but when you are offered something for free you take it. Then it is up to you if you want to use it, or let it rot in a corner.
16 August 2014, 12:01
42
Where exactly in the article is there a mention of an Israeli "veto"?
Last time I read it the comment was "provoke Israel".
So you now have taught us that you know how to read things that don't appear.
16 August 2014, 08:19
45
simple logic would show that those who are after commissions on the deal are the lebanese military and nobody else.
16 August 2014, 09:59
34
ex fpm
right on you are absolutely correct. you might want to add our corrupt and greedy politicians along with our inept and corrupt military leaders who want their cut.
shame on them
16 August 2014, 11:30
43
LBCI: Lebanese brokers tried to benefit from the first Saudi grant, among them politicians and current and former officials in power.
16 August 2014, 10:44
22
Indeed France has been insisting on delivering used Alouette helicopter since several years while the LAF is requesting new models.
16 August 2014, 11:14
11
Well, "used" doesn't mean "outdated" guys, there are still very efficient weapons not used anymore by France for logistic reasons.
16 August 2014, 15:42
00
They send the latest and most sophisticated weapons to da3esh FREE OF CHARGE, but send rusty useless junk to the Lebanese army that is paid for in billions of dollars. Now the big question: who created da3esh wa akhawatiha?
