France says $3b Lebanon arms deal to go ahead
France will soon provide weapons and military equipment to the Lebanese army as part of a $3 billion grant from Saudi Arabia to help it fight jihadis encroaching into Lebanon from Syria, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday.
One of the few institutions not overtaken by the sectarian divisions that plague Lebanon, the army has few resources to deal with the instability on its border and has been seeking to modernise its military hardware.
"All the work is done and the President (Francois Hollande) indicated yesterday to Mr (Saad) al-Hariri that the conditions to fulfil the contract had been met," Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament.
"This is a necessity. The Lebanese army is the last barrier that exists against the security threats this country faces."
