LEBANON-USA/ARMY Lebanon tests new missiles provided by the U.S.

Record ID: 150830

  • Title: LEBANON-USA/ARMY Lebanon tests new missiles provided by the U.S.
  • Date: 10th June 2015
  • Summary: BAALBEK, LEBANON (JUNE 10, 2015) (REUTERS) ARMY PERSON GATHERING AT FOOT OF HILL IN BAALBEK REGION LEBANESE ARMY SOLDIERS GATHERING INSIDE TENT/ VEHICLES PARKED NEARBY VARIOUS OF TROOPS SPEAKING SOLDIER STANDING GUARD BEHIND CAMOUFLAGE TENT VARIOUS OF LEBANESE ARMY HELICOPTER LANDING CARRYING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE LEBANESE ARMY SOLDIERS ON TOP OF ARMOURED PERSONNE
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1EIT16J29VQ4J47M3GP6DL0U
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Lebanese army test-fired on Wednesday (June 10) a new shipment of missiles from the U.S. which have been financed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
    The TOW-II anti-armour and bunker buster missiles arrived on June 1 as part of aid from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to help the Lebanese army combat jihadists on its border with Syria.
    ''Today we are celebrating just the latest shipment of U.S. equipment, that is the arrival of over 200 TOW-II missiles and dozens of launchers for the Lebanese army. This equipment has a value of over 10 million dollars and is jointly-financed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the United States,'' said U.S. ambassador David Hale during a statement to media who were invited to witness the test-fire.
    In February this year, the Lebanese army received more than $25 million worth of military aid from U.S. including heavy artillery to to help it fight the jihadist groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian/Lebanese border.
    The Lebanese army has fought regular battles with armed groups including militants linked to Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front in areas near the Syrian border not far from Baalbek where the test-fire was conducted.
    While the U.S.-backed Lebanese army has been battling hard-line Islamists on the Lebanese side of the frontier, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah has been fighting the same groups on the Syrian side of the border -- part of its role fighting alongside Damascus in the Syrian war.
    ''We do that because we are absolutely committed to making sure that the army has the capacity to be the sole defender of Lebanese territory and its border and it is answerable to the state and to the Lebanese people through the state. This is a long-term commitment and we will stand by Lebanon's side in this regard until these terrorists are defeated,'' Hale said.
    The test-fire was carried out in the Taybeh range in Baalbek.
    The U.S. embassy in Lebanon says the country is the fifth biggest recipient of U.S. military aid. It received more than $100 million last year. Lebanese officials have warned of plans by radical Islamist groups fighting in the Syria war to seize territory in Lebanon.
    The Lebanese army, rebuilt after the country's 1975-90 civil war, is one of the strongest institutions in the country, but it has been hamstrung by outdated weapons.
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