The total amount of military aid the US has provided in the past 6 months to Lebanon is over 140 million dollars and covers everything from weapons, armored vehicles, aircraft and a sea vessel.
200 armored personnel carriers arrived this week to Beirut’s Port, bringing the Lebanese Army’s total to around 1200 APCs.
6 Huey II choppers were also given to Lebanon, which are a far superior refurbishment of the Huey I we are all used to seeing. This brings the LAF’s total to 35 Helicopters (24 US-made Hueys and 11 French-made Gazelles). A flight simulator and special building to help train pilots better was also donated in the Rayak airport.
A 42-meter coastal craft was also given to the Lebanese army to help patrol the maritime border.
Also, various tow trucks, hum-vees and other vehicles were also donated as well as artillery kits and simulators.
Point is, the US seems to think we might need to start protecting our borders with Syria better, and I think that’s unfortunately useless since the political willpower to do so is non-existent. Dozens of Lebanese citizens have already been killed, and not once has the Lebanese Army retaliated or sought to fend off Rebel or Syrian Army incursions into our territories.
While I’m grateful for the US assistance this year (which has been the largest ever in the bi-lateral military cooperation between Lebanon and the US), I guess all these pieces of equipment will only come in handy next year when they are used to create traffic at rush hour to prepare for a military parade…
Sources: US Embassy, Reuters, Al Arabiya
The boats and helicopters are not likely to create traffic IMO
A couple dozen unarmed helicopters–that look like they came from Vietnam–and a boat. Good luck patrolling 10,000 square kilometers with that. Meanwhile Israel gets billions per year to buy the most sophisticated weapons known to mankind. They could take out Lebanon’s entire army, air force, navy in an afternoon. What a joke.