According to AFP (via Al Arabiya), dated 18OCT14:
Lebanon's defense minister on Saturday started a three-day visit to Tehran for talks expected to culminate in him securing military equipment to bolster Beirut's fight against jihadists.
Samir Moqbel's visit comes two weeks after Iran vowed to supply Lebanon's army with much-needed equipment following its deadly clashes with fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Nusra Front, on the Syrian border in August.
Moqbel will meet his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan to discuss how to improve military cooperation and combat regional security challenges, Fars news agency reported
Meetings with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme National Security Council Secretary [Rear Admiral] Ali Shamkhani are also scheduled, according to Fars.
Iran's offer of military support -- made when Shamkhani visited Beirut last month -- followed aid packages for Lebanon's army from Tehran's regional rival Riyadh as well as from Washington.COMMENTARY: According to a regional source, specified Iranian military aid includes the following:
- DShK type heavy machine guns with 12.7×108mm ammunition
- BGM-71 TOW type ATGMs
- Night-vision optics
- 60 mm and 120 mm mortars, ammunition
- T-55 and T-62 tank main armament ammunition
- 155 mm howitzer type ammunition
Iranian military aid to Lebanon would mirror its current assistance to Syria, Iraq, Iraqi-Kurdistan and possibly Yemen in the war against ISIL and al-Qaeda affiliates, reflecting an uncoordinated, competing coalition effort to that led by the United States.
Photos: Tasnim News Agency
Moqbel accepted an offer by Dehgan made few weeks ago to provide the Lebanese army with weaponry, and he’s in Tehran to secure the arms. Although these are relatively simple weaponry, and Lebanon looks to secure advanced arms from the Europe, including Russia, but these are still useful and needed by its army.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. Got to love Iran's tactical move here. Once its supply route to Hezbollah via Syria is threatened, divert those weapons to Lebanese army and ensure that the majority end up in Hezbollah's hand that practically runs Lebanon these days.
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