Le Drian Visits Beirut on Sunday to Supervise Arms Delivery
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will arrive on Sunday evening in Beirut to oversee the long-awaited delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army under a Saudi financed deal.
According to An Nahar newspaper published on Friday, the delivery of the first shipment of $3 billion worth of weapons to the army will be held later on Monday during a ceremony at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport's air base.
The French minister is also expected to hold talks with prominent Lebanese officials.
Le Drian will also deliver a speech during a ceremony at the French Embassy in Beirut's Sodeco area.
The first batch of arms reportedly includes 48 Milan rockets.
Saudi Arabia and France inked the arms deal in Riyadh in November.
The deal also includes training programs for the Lebanese army run by the French military.
It aims to boost Lebanon's military as it struggles to contain the rising tide of violence linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria.
In August, the kingdom also offered another $1 billion in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.
H.K.
G.K.
17 April 2015, 07:51
30
1 billion dollars yea right. Where is that 1 billion dollars or the 3 billion dollars promised over a year ago. Stop embarrassing yourself dude.
17 April 2015, 09:33
03
m8 posters should go to the airport to make sure the KSA offered weapons are really arriving :)
17 April 2015, 09:42
14
Mowaten and Flamethrower should be invited to the ceremony and given permission to inspect the weapons.
17 April 2015, 11:35
03
Arab, the article said, "the first batch of...". We cannot expect the state to divulge everything, neither should the donors. However the weapons are now reaching the army and the signs are truly ominous, the army is now more capable to take the fight to the terrorists ans soon will be more capable to translate the will of the state over every corner of Lebanon. It's that simple, a strong army translates into a strong state, and the rest will fit almost perfectly. let's just be a bit more patient, that's all. All in good time.
17 April 2015, 13:58
01
Ahlen bi Rabak, bring it on. Start sending them and we have humus bi tahini waiting for the French paratroops, also the hot summer is coming and beach girls are waiting so come prepared for some real action.
