Germany donates radar technology to prevent Hezbollah arms shipments

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Germany donated 1.1 million Euros to Lebanon to upgrade its coastal radar system and improve the country’s coastal surveillance, a statement by the German embassy in Beirut said Friday.

The statement said the agreement was signed by the head of the Lebanese Army General Jean Khawji and the deputy head of the German mission to Lebanon, Michael Bierhoff.

The German naval mission is part of the UN Maritime Task Force, which was sent to Lebanon following the July 2006 war with Israel, to monitor the Lebanese coast alongside with other European countries.

Germany currently has three ships and about 250 men and women serving in the mission. The Maritime Task Force was established in accordance to the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended 33 days of fierce fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

Its main task is to prevent any arms shipments bound for the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

According to the embassy statement, the German support for the Lebanese Navy started in 2006 when a sophisticated coastal radar system was set up which now consists six modern coastal radar stations.

‘Germany has also donated three ships and state-of-the-art ship security equipment to the Lebanese Navy,’ the statement added.

Since 2006, Germany has given more than 3.6 million euros in assistance to the Lebanese navy.

DPA

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