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France, Saudi Arabia sign Lebanon weapons deal

Iran Press TV

Wed Nov 5, 2014 5:33AM GMT

France and Saudi Arabia have signed a USD 3 billion deal to provide the Lebanese army with French weapons.

The agreement was inked on Tuesday during a ceremony in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the presence of French, Lebanese and Saudi officials.

'This agreement, financed by a Saudi grant, will contribute to strengthen the Lebanese army, which guarantees the unity and stability of Lebanon,' French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement.

He added that the deal will 'strengthen the Lebanese army, which is the guarantor of the unity and stability of Lebanon."

'This deal will help to ensure the army's mission to defend its territory and to fight terrorism at a time when Lebanon is threatened,' Fabius said, giving no further details.

On October 8, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the agreement includes land, air and naval military equipment.

In December 2013, Saudi Arabia pledged USD 3 billion to the Lebanese government for the purchase of weapons from France.

The grant offer was made by Saudi King Abdullah following the arrest of a Saudi terrorist leader of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Majid al-Majid, who claimed responsibility for the November 2013 bombing outside the Iranian Embassy in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

DB/KA/AS