As ISIL advances, Lebanon military aid delayed over fears it would be used by Hizbullah

Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Lebanon’s leader has voiced concerns about the threat from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant and the timing of a $3 billion military aid project facilitated by France and Saudi Arabia.

“ISIL is present in the region of Arsal, on the Lebanese-Syrian border,” Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam said. “If it manages to invade Lebanon, it will impose its extremism everywhere.”

Arsal, Lebanon.
Arsal, Lebanon.

In an interview with France’s Le Journal du Dimanche on Dec. 21, Salam acknowledged differences with the French armament program. The prime minister said the Lebanese Air Force must receive attack helicopters to stop the infiltration of ISIL as well as Nusra Front for the Defense of Levant from neighboring Syria.

“We are still in talks for the helicopters to be delivered at the beginning of the program rather than at the end, so that we can use missiles as soon as possible against the jihadis in the mountains,” Salam said.

Officials said France would attempt to complete the final details of a Saudi-financed weapons deal for the Lebanese military. They said a leading French defense official would seek to complete an order and timetable for the first shipment of weapons to enhance Lebanon’s ability to battle ISIL.

Officials said the Lebanese military modernization program has been delayed for months amid French and Saudi concerns that advanced weapons could fall into the hands of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. They said Beirut has been pressed to guarantees that Hizbullah would not be granted access to French combat platforms.

Under the French plan, weapons deliveries would begin by March 2015 and last for three years. Officials said Paris would first send advisors to train the Lebanese military to operate French equipment and at the last stage supply the helicopters.

The head of the French defense export agency, Edouard Guillaud, was scheduled to arrive in Beirut on Dec. 23 to review an equipment and delivery schedule. In mid-December, Guillaud and Lebanese Chief of Staff Gen. Jean Qahwaji signed an agreement to launch the first phase of the military modernization plan.

On Dec. 21, the Lebanese daily Al Mustaqbal reported that the first shipment of French weapons would arrive by mid-January 2015. The newspaper quoted a military official that Lebanon would receive the Cessna combat turboprop as well as unidentified helicopters.

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