Report: Saudi Arabia Unblocks Military Aid to Lebanon
Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have agreed to hold talks on restoring a $3-billion military aid package that Riyadh froze last year, a Lebanese source told AFP on Tuesday.
"The blockage is lifted," said an official in the delegation of President Michel Aoun, who held talks in the Saudi capital with King Salman earlier in the day.
"It's finished. There is truly a change. But when and how, we have to wait to see," the official said, adding "a new page" had been turned and the aid was "going to move."
The king's son, the powerful Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will discuss with his Lebanese counterpart how to move forward with the package, said the official, who asked for anonymity.
However, other sources from the Lebanese delegation downplayed the official's remarks.
“The issue of the Saudi grant was discussed but no decision has yet been taken to unblock the aid,” LBCI television quoted the sources as saying.
Earlier in the day, Lebanon's National News Agency said Aoun asked King Salman for “continued support for the army in the face of terrorism and the other security challenges, including the issue of the grant.”
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, said he will follow up on the issue with the competent ministers,” NNA added.
In February, the kingdom halted the military aid program to protest what it said was "the stranglehold of Hizbullah on the (Lebanese) state."
The program, funded by Riyadh, would provide vehicles, helicopters, drones, cannons and other military equipment from France.
After Aoun's election, France's foreign ministry said it was in "close dialogue" with Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in hope of a deal.
10 January 2017, 19:55
27
Amazing!
The Saudi grant is no longer a "ghost" grant, no more a joke, no more a "bluff", no more a bunch of second hand and rusty jeeps, boots and junkyard equipment. All this was made possible by Michel Aoun.!!!
10 January 2017, 21:37
112
hold your horses trollo, we've already been there and heard those empty promises from the saudis. let's wait and see if anything materializes or if they'll make up other excuses to break their word again.
10 January 2017, 21:38
112
plus despite the misleading title, no "unblocking" of the aid has occurred yet, they only "agreed to hold talks on restoring" it.
11 January 2017, 00:58
71
what "ironclad promises"? once more you invent BS to make up for your lack of arguments?
your friends keep doing all they can to prevent getting any real weapons from iran, and pulling every excuse.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/223459-report-providing-lebanon-with-weapons-from-iran-violates-u-n-arms-embargo
10 January 2017, 21:43
26
Factual and Balanced
Steady and unwavering
Always going where no one else dares
@mowaten
What can one say, another E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T comment. I particularly enjoyed the part where you said " hold your horses trollo, we've already been there "
Thank you for making this forum lovely, lively and vibrant.
Still laughing since January 2015 when you said the grant was only about teaching our soldiers the French language.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely
@CFTC
11 January 2017, 03:44
28
but when you say it was a ghost grant and now that it materialized you are a winner;)
11 January 2017, 06:22
26
the iranian troll is something special and he does not realize it : )
10 January 2017, 20:04
112
Now this is fun. Iran on the verge of providing Lebanon real weaponry, then Saudi Arabia jumps in immediately to act like they are the best partners of Lebanon.
Well well, now you see you are not the only ones that can give arms, you only had your leftovers when you get jealous of Iran.
10 January 2017, 20:32
92
Not a coincidence your wahabi sauds are so fast to deliver their so called garbage aid again.
10 January 2017, 20:47
27
How dare you accuse your president Aoun of accepting garbage aid?????
You should be arrested for insulting the president!
10 January 2017, 22:47
72
When Iran delivers real aid to Lebanon, that will be the day to celebrate.
None of this garbage from dusty french junkyards.
11 January 2017, 03:46
26
@flamerotten
thanks to aoun and his constant attacks on KSA and alliance with hezb of iran that made suspension of the grant possible.
10 January 2017, 20:06
212
@flametroller only yesterday said that aoun will call the saudis' bluff and they either had to comply and materialize their grant or be shown for the taqiyah liars that they are. Aoun 'forced' them to deliver on their otherwise empty promises. Force he used is not necessarily associated with violence as @flametroller always says. He used cunning which is interchangeable with force similar to when your momma forces you to finish your spinach.
After all Aoun is a diplomat and a politician.
10 January 2017, 20:22
36
we just have to wait and see. I think they will release the arms as they have always supported our armed forces regardless of who is president.
11 January 2017, 13:28
24
You have a short memory and IQ. When the previous president was lied to by your Iranian militia that they won't interfere in syria's war then the militia received the orders from Iran and Assad suddenly they accused president sulieman of being worried about wood instead of gold, and all of sudden in his last days he became a bad president. Anyone who speaks the real truth then it hurts you and you call them Israeli or propagandist. History speaks for itself in terms of arms and the army. Having Iranian bullets for an American or French made weapons is useless, which is why the army commanders refused it, where do we send our best men to get trained and become high ranking officers in the army? To Iran or university of sa3sa3? No they go to USA and France. So enough of this b.s and the gulf has Always rebuilt our infrastructure after the Israeli or Hezbollah wars. Donated millions to our government and not to group of people to go above and beyond other groups.
11 January 2017, 14:16
22
the shia iranian mouthpiece is still trolling on the same article 24 hours later..... sad empty life he must have.
12 January 2017, 05:08
00
yes Your low IQ named at least one officer who graduated from sa3sa3 university. Why does the army get trained by western commanders. is the army pressured to spend their money and training too.
