French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu (center) visits the base of the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on Nov. 2, 2023. (Credit: Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP)
France will send dozens of armored vehicles to the Lebanese army so it can properly carry out patrol missions in the country, says France's minister of armed forces.
Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour after a trip to the country, Sebastien Lecornu said it was vital to beef up the Lebanese national army so that it could coordinate well with the United Nations peacekeeping force as tensions mount between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
"We will pursue our partnership with military equipment, notably for the transport of troops protected by armor, which is key to maintain patrols," he said, adding that several dozen armored vehicles would be given to the Lebanese army soon.
"Our support for the Lebanese army is for the long-term, whatever the current difficulties," Lecornu added.
Paris will also provide medicines and is setting up a joint program to purchase medical supplies at reasonable prices for the Lebanese army in the future, he said.
France has sought to use its historical relationship with Lebanon to try to defuse tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, but violence has spiked.
Some 700 French soldiers are part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) established in 1978 following violence on the Israel-Lebanon border.
armored vehicles to the Lebanese army so it can properly carry
out patrol missions in the country, says France's minister of armed forces.
Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour after a
trip to the country, Sebastien Lecornu said it was vital to beef
up the Lebanese national army so that it could coordinate well
with the United Nations...