France Seeking to Deliver Used Weapons to Lebanese Army
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.
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