Lebanon asks for more global aid in anti-terrorism campaign
Iran Press TV
Mon Dec 8, 2014 2:32PM GMT
Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam has called for more international aid to help the country in its fight against Takfiri terrorist groups.
In a Monday interview, Salam lauded the Lebanese army for demonstrating "respectable defense capacity" in the course of its anti-terror campaign, but noted, "We need a lot more aid for it."
He dismissed the likelihood of Lebanon falling to the rule of the ISIL Takfiri group or the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front, as it has taken place in parts of Syria and Iraq, but he said, "The danger is that they will try to weaken Lebanon."
Lebanon's army currently has nearly 70,000 forces and it is in the process of recruiting 10,000 more.
Last December, Saudi Arabia, which itself is considered a key sponsor of extremist groups across the Middle East, pledged to provide Lebanon with USD 3 billion for the purchase of French weapons.
The Lebanese premier said all the arms deals have been finalized with France and the delivery of French weapons will begin in the coming weeks.
The al-Nusra Front and ISIL overran the eastern Lebanese town of Arsal, situated about 124 kilometers (77 miles) northeast of the capital, Beirut, in August, capturing some 20 soldiers and police officers there. They later executed three of the hostages.
Over the past months, Lebanon has been suffering from terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda-linked militants and random rocket attacks, which are viewed as a spillover of the conflict in Syria.
ASH/HSN/SS
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