Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




MILPLEX
Saudi, France seal $3 bn weapons deal for Lebanon army
by Staff Writers
Riyadh (AFP) Nov 04, 2014


Saudi Arabia and France sealed an agreement Tuesday for Riyadh to finance the delivery of $3 billion worth of French weapons to the Lebanese army, which has come under mounting jihadist attack.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius hailed the conclusion of the deal, first announced last December, as a major boost to the Lebanese army's ability to tackle "terrorism" at a time when the former French colony is under mounting threat.

The deal comes as the poorly equipped Lebanese army battles jihadists, including militants of the Islamic State group, both along its porous border with Syria and in its second city Tripoli.

The deal was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Edouard Guillaud, the head of the ODAS organisation set up by France for the export of defence equipment, a diplomat told AFP.

Lebanese army chief General Jean Kahwaji was also present at the ceremony, the diplomat said, without giving details on the list of weapons to be supplied -- a clause that had stalled the agreement for months.

A French source told AFP that the contract would now "be rapidly implemented."

The French foreign minister said: "This agreement, financed through Saudi aid, will contribute to strengthening the Lebanese army, guarantor of Lebanon's unity and stability.

"It will help it to carry out its mission to defend national territory and fight terrorism, at a time when Lebanon is under threat."

Lebanon's main northern city of Tripoli was rocked by three days of devastating fighting between troops and suspected Al-Qaeda loyalists late last month that left at least 11 soldiers and five civilians dead.

In August, troops fought deadly clashes with jihadists of the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front in the town of Arsal close to the Syrian border.

The jihadists withdrew across the border after a truce deal, but took with them several dozen captive Lebanese soldiers and police, three of whom they have since executed.

Last December, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia agreed to finance a $3 billion package of French military equipment and arms for the Lebanese army.

And in mid-June, at a conference in Rome, the international community pledged its backing for the Lebanese military.

But in September, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said his country was still waiting "impatiently" for the delivery of the French-made weapons.

In August, Saudi Arabia pledged a further $1 billion to strengthen the Lebanese army and last month Washington announced it had delivered a new shipment of Hellfire missiles and would also supply light aircraft.

Announcing the supplies, US ambassador David Hale said the aircraft would be paid for out of the additional Saudi funding.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








MILPLEX
How spending more on the military could make it weaker
Washington DC (UPI) Oct 26, 2014
To hear the anguished cries of critics of the Obama administration's defense plans, one would think the nation is disarming. We are told that at a projected end strength of 450,000 active duty Army personnel, ground forces will be headed to pre-World War II levels. The Navy, with some 290 ships or less, will be down to the size of the pre-World War I fleet. Is the sky falling? Un ... read more


MILPLEX
China examines the three stages of lunar test run

NASA's LRO Spacecraft Captures Images of LADEE's Impact Crater

New lunar mission to test Chang'e-5 technology

Next Chinese mission to moon will return to Earth

MILPLEX
You can't get to Mars, but your name can

A One Way Trip to Mars

Mars 2020 Will Continue Search for Habitability

NASA Seeks Ultra-lightweight Materials to Help Enable Journey to Mars

MILPLEX
India to launch unmanned crew module in December

NASA Program Enhances Climate Resilience at Agency Facilities

SpaceShipTwo Manufacturer May Face Setback After Crash in California

Eye-catching space technology restoring sight

MILPLEX
China to build global quantum communication network in 2030

China's Lunar Orbiter Makes Safe Landing, First in 40 Years

China's First Lunar Return Mission A Stunning Success

China completes first mission to moon and back

MILPLEX
Students text International Space Station using a 20-foot antenna

Student Experiments Lost in Antares Rocket Explosion

NASA to work with cargo partners despite rocket crash

Russian space station resupply rocket launches, docks at ISS

MILPLEX
India to test fly bigger space vehicle next month

Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

Arianespace signs contract with ELV for ten Vega launchers

NASA Completes Initial Assessment after Orbital Launch Mishap

MILPLEX
VLTI detects exozodiacal light

Yale finds a planet that won't stick to a schedule

In a first, astronomers map comets around another star

Getting To Know Super-Earths

MILPLEX
Five years in space: one satellite, three missions

NMSU chemistry research could contribute to multiple applications

Active, biodegradable packaging for oily products

E-waste inferno burning brighter in China's recycling capital




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.