Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections
Heavy U.S. military assistance, including tanks, artillery and aircrafts, is expected to arrive in Lebanon ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections, U.S. officials announced following talks with Defense Minister Elias Murr in Washington.
The confirmation of the arms shipment to Lebanon was made by State Department official David Hale and Colin Kahl, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs.
Hale said the shipment includes 41 Howitzer artillery and 12 Zodiac boats.
He said the Lebanese military will also be receiving in May 12 pilotless Raven aircrafts that would help the army monitor any attempt to fire rockets from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.
Hale said the delivery also includes one Cessna Caravan aircraft, which is expected to arrive end of April to provide air support for ground forces.
A set of 20 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and the first batch of 10 M-60 tanks will also be arriving in May, according to Hale.
Murr on Wednesday met with senior White House officials in the first official visit made by a Lebanese government figure to Washington since U.S. President Barack Obama became president.
His meetings included talks with Special Assistant for State Security and Counter-Terrorism John Brennan.
"There are no changes in President Barack Obama”s policy toward Lebanon; in fact, there is a commitment to support the Lebanese government and its institutions," Brennan told reporters following the meeting.
He said Obama”s administration was "ready to meet the needs of Lebanon”s defense ministry and army, which represent the key elements to Lebanon”s stability and security."
Murr also met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Special Envoy to the Middle East Senator George Mitchell, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Special Adviser Dennis Ross.
"It is very important that the United States stand firmly and strongly on behalf of Lebanese democracy," Clinton said following her meeting with Murr.
"We are very supportive of what the Lebanese government is doing in its efforts to make sure that the upcoming elections are free and fair," she added.
"And we are very encouraged by the efforts that the Lebanese government has been making to comply with international obligations and to continue to make progress on a whole range of issues," Clinton said.
Murr, in turn, thanked Clinton for the "backup that the State of Department and the U.S. administration is giving to Lebanon, to the government of Lebanon, and to the Lebanese army."
"I hope that … the U.S. policy – and this is what I heard, and I can confirm it today – the U.S. policy will remain the same concerning Lebanon," Murr added.