U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy' | World Defense

U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'

Redheart

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Arm all sides, keep the blood flowing . . . that's the U.S new foreign policy?

U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'| Reuters

The United States delivered more than $25 million worth of military aid including heavy artillery to the Lebanese army on Sunday to help it fight jihadist groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian border.

The U.S. ambassador to Beirut, David Hale, said in a statement the weapons would be used to "defeat the terrorist and extremist threat from Syria".

"We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous," Hale said at an event marking the delivery of the weapons in Beirut.

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, most recently late last month when six soldiers were killed.

Hale said Lebanon was 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.

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.

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the country's 1975-90 civil war, is one of the strongest institutions in the country, but it has been hamstrung by outdated weapons.

France and Lebanon signed a $3 billion Saudi-funded deal in early November to provide French weapons and military equipment, including helicopters, to the Lebanese army.

A Lebanese government statement said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the sidelines of a Munich security conference they would get the first batch of weapons under the deal in April.

The United States has accelerated the delivery of military aid to Lebanon since last August, when Islamist militants staged a major attack in the border town of Arsal, said Nabil Haitham, a columnist in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir.

"Despite the importance of these weapons, they cannot make up for the big shortfall from which the army is suffering," he told Reuters, adding that helicopters were vital.
 

Rainshield7

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Arm all sides, keep the blood flowing . . . that's the U.S new foreign policy?

U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'| Reuters

The United States delivered more than $25 million worth of military aid including heavy artillery to the Lebanese army on Sunday to help it fight jihadist groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian border.

The U.S. ambassador to Beirut, David Hale, said in a statement the weapons would be used to "defeat the terrorist and extremist threat from Syria".

"We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous," Hale said at an event marking the delivery of the weapons in Beirut.

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, most recently late last month when six soldiers were killed.

Hale said Lebanon was 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.

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.

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.

France and Lebanon signed a $3 billion Saudi-funded deal in early November to provide French weapons and military equipment, including helicopters, to the Lebanese army.

A Lebanese government statement said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the sidelines of a Munich security conference they would get the first batch of weapons under the deal in April.

The United States has accelerated the delivery of military aid to Lebanon since last August, when Islamist militants staged a major attack in the border town of Arsal, said Nabil Haitham, a columnist in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir.

"Despite the importance of these weapons, they cannot make up for the big shortfall from which the army is suffering," he told Reuters, adding that helicopters were vital.
With outdated equipment, it is hard for an army to fight a war. They can strategize most of the time but with no updated tech it makes things useless. I think it is a decision that would have its share of views, but that is always expected.
 

RingoBerry

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For as long as they are aiming those weapons against the real threats like ISIS, I have no qualms with countries arming them selves betters and those supporting them.
 

Redheart

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The way I see it, the U.S there's a concerted effort being made to sustain the turmoil in the Middle East. Fine, ISIS might be defeated but would that end the wars in Syria and Iraq? I doubt it. When the groups tire of fighting each other, they'll find targets elsewhere because I'm sure there are many who embrace ISIS's ideology. It [that ideology] will still live on, long after ISIS is gone and this weapons being handed out will be used against those who give them.
 

Rainshield7

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For as long as they are aiming those weapons against the real threats like ISIS, I have no qualms with countries arming them selves betters and those supporting them.
I too can see your point as long as those countries do not attack us then we are good. Considering the circumstance the Lebanese army really can used those guns. It is a struggle to get in areas without the right tools.
 

pcgamer

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Let's see how long can US and Lebanon keep ISIS at bay? I won't think it would be long before the spread to the whole Middle East and some part of Africa. Scary situation indeed! Only time would wold tell how much these weapons would prove to be of help.
 
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