Lebanese army soldiers carry their weapons during clashes with Islamist militants in Tripoli on Oct. 25. (Stringer/Reuters)
Rivals Tehran, Riyadh Pledge Billions To Lebanon’s Army -- Washington Post
BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia and Iran have offered apparently competing aid packages to Lebanon’s small and modestly armed military as it confronts increasing attacks at home by militants with ties to extremists fighting in Syria’s civil war.
The pledges total billions of dollars’ worth of mostly light arms and underscore the mounting concern of the Persian Gulf foes about the stability of a country where both have invested significant resources.
The aid is on top of the more than $1 billion spent by the United States since 2006 to train and equip the 65,000-member military, which has limited authority and yields to Iran-backed Hezbollah, Lebanon’s powerful Shiite militia. Hezbollah supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his fight against Saudi-backed rebels.
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More News On France And Lebanon Signing A Saudi-Funded Arms Deal Worth $3 Bln
France, Lebanon sign Saudi-funded arms deal worth $3 bln -- Reuters
French Weapons, Paid For By Saudi Arabia, To Arm Lebanese Military -- IBTimes
Saudi Arabia, France Seal $3 Billion Weapons Deal For Lebanon Army -- Defense News/AFP
France Signs $3B Deal With Saudi to Arm Lebanon -- AP
Saudi Arabia and France sign deal to provide arms to Lebanon -- RFI
Update: The Israelis are worried on who is going to receive these weapons .... Will $3 Billion Saudi Deal Arm Hezbollah with French Weapons? (Arutz Sheva)
