Pentagon to keep backing Lebanon military, despite Hezbollah gains
WASHINGTON - The US military is committed to supporting and providing assistance to the Lebanese armed forces, the Pentagon said on Friday, despite the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies making significant gains in parliamentary election
"The United States remains committed to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, security, and its state institutions, to include the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the professional, multi-confessional and sole legitimate armed forces of the Lebanese state," Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told Reuters in a statement.
"Strengthening the US-Lebanon defense relationship is all the more important in light of the continuing threats emanating from Syria, including continued ISIS challenges and Iranian aggression," Rebarich said.
She added that the United States and Lebanon shared a goal of building the Lebanese armed forces' capacity as "the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon's sovereignty."
