U.S. Increased Support for Lebanese Army by $32.5 Million
The U.S. government has increased its support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) by $32.5 million, the U.S. embassy said in a statement released on Tuesday.
It said the announcement was made by visiting Maj. Gen. Robert R. Allardice and Bill Grant, the U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) after a meeting with LAF command officers.
Allardice, the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy for the U.S. Military Central Command wound up a three-day official visit to Lebanon on Tuesday.
"The overall goal of U.S. military assistance to Lebanon is to strengthen the LAF and increase its capacity to defend Lebanon”s borders," the embassy statement said.
It said the United States is committed to building the capabilities of the LAF and "it will continue to support the government of Lebanon and the LAF as they continue their efforts to safeguard the peace, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon."
With this new funding allocation, total U.S. support for the LAF since 2006 exceeds $410 million, the statement added.