NICOSIA — The United States has sent a shipment of police vehicles to Lebanon.   

Officials said the Lebanese Internal Security Forces has received 120 Dodge Charger police vehicles for patrol and other missions. They said the police vehicles marked the latest U.S. measure to bolster the ISF, with more than 50,000 officers.

"The 120 new, white police cars will be part of the ISF's traffic management plan," the U.S. embassy said on July 1. "Bearing the ISF insignia and emergency phone number, each car includes a sophisticated police package with advanced transmission, brakes, lights and sirens."

Officials said the United States has trained more than 2,250 members of ISF in basic and advanced leadership courses, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the cadet course comprises a 10-week training program taught by U.S. instructors.

The new vehicles would be used to help patrol the Palestinian refugee camp of Naher Barid, the base of an Al Qaida revolt in 2007. ISF played a minor role in the counter-insurgency operation in Naher Barid and refused to respond to the Hizbullah assault on offices and political parties linked to then-Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in May 2008.

The embassy said the United States has delivered 480 security vehicles to ISF under an $80 million program. In 2008, 300 new black Dodge Chargers and 60 Ford Explorers were delivered. ISF has also received refurbished armored personnel carriers.

"The multi-year U.S. government assistance program to the ISF is focused on training, equipment donations and infrastructure development," the embassy said.

The United States has also pledged to ship fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and main battle tanks to Lebanon's military. Officials said the shipments were expected to arrive in late 2009.

---