Lebanon president will press US to deliver military aid

Lebanon’s president Michel Suleiman who headed today to Washington will urge U.S. officials to speed up delivery of weapons for the nation’s army during his trip which includes a meeting Monday with President Barack Obama, a Lebanese official said Saturday.

The United States has long provided military assistance to Lebanon — including $410 million to the military and the police. But America has not handed over any sophisticated arms for fear they could end up in the hands of Hezbollah, which the U.S. lists as a terrorist group.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, the military assistance over the past years includes aircraft, tanks, artillery, small boats, infantry weapons, ammunition, Humvees and cargo trucks. It adds that the U.S. will provide the Lebanese Armed Forces with 12 Raven unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft in the coming months. Source: AP