Vehicles donated by the United Nations to the Lebanese Army, Feb. 10, 2022. (Credit: @Lebarmy)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army on Thursday received a donation of vehicles and military equipment from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, the Lebanese Army said via its Twitter account. The army, however, did not specify the number of vehicles it received.
Here’s what we know:
• The Lebanese Army said the donation was handed over from the head of the UNIFIL, Stefano Del Col, to Gen. Maroun Kobeyati, representative of the Lebanese Army head Joseph Aoun at the UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura. Following the handover, Kobeyati gave Del Col a memorial shield and thanked him “for his support to the army and his contribution in preserving security and stability in South Lebanon.”
• Many countries have recently made donations to the Lebanese Army as its budget shrinks and the living conditions of its soldiers deteriorate amid the unprecedented economic crisis the country is facing.
• Washington donated six helicopters back in October. France, Qatar, Turkey, Morocco and Oman have all donated humanitarian aid. Last November, the Korean contingent of UNIFIL donated 10 armored vehicles to the army and announced that it had helped restore the emergency room of the military health center in Sur.