Hariri Meets Saudi King, Thanks Him for Supporting Lebanese Army
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks Monday with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz at the al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh.
During the meeting, Hariri thanked the monarch for “the kingdom's keenness on Lebanon's security and stability as well as its support for the Lebanese army in terms of boosting its preparedness and strength so that it can confront terror and defend Lebanon's borders,” the ex-PM's office said in a statement.
Hariri noted that “the Lebanese army today received the first batch of military aid as part of a $3 billion donation offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
According to Hariri's office, the meeting was also attended by Crown Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
Earlier on Monday, Lebanon received the first shipment of the $3 billion worth of French arms under a Saudi-financed deal to boost the country's defensive capabilities.
In recent weeks, Hariri defended Saudi Arabia against fierce tirades from Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who slammed the kingdom over its military operation in Yemen against Shiite Huthi rebels.
Y.R.
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