UK Approves UAE Hawk Transfer to the Lebanon
 

Defense News: Saudi Arabia's Aid to Lebanon Presents Challenge for Iran

DUBAI — The $3 billion Saudi Arabian grant to the Lebanese Army to buy equipment from France will prove to be a real test for Iran’s new foreign policy, according to an expert.

The grant, described by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman as the largest ever given to the country’s armed forces, represents the more proactive role Saudi Arabia is playing in Middle Eastern politics. It will also force Iran to present more concessions in its efforts to lift international sanctions that have crippled the country, said Riad Kahwaji, founder and CEO of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis in Beirut and Dubai.

On Sunday in a televised address, Suleiman said “the king of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is offering this generous and appreciated aid of $3 billion to the Lebanese Army to strengthen its capabilities. This Saudi-French move has made Iran’s task of rapprochement with the western powers tougher,” Kahwaji said. “Now Iran has to give up more than their nuclear program for the lifting of the sanctions.”...............

Kahwaji added that the UK has given the green light to the United Arab Emirates to transfer 10 Hawk light attack jets to Lebanon that can provide close-air support to their ground troops. “According to the Lebanese Air Force command, their fighter jet needs are not for MiG-29s or F-16s but rather for close-air support fighters,” he said............

This can only be a good thing; it's surely not in anyone's interest that Lebanon be an open-house for any terror group or aggressive neighbour to stamp over whenever they feel like it.

Might be good for export sales as well?

Not a good idea as yet again Saudis pump more money into their own agenda.

I remember in 76 at Saints on my Mechs course after a bank holiday, coming back we found the Hunters we had as training aids had gone, a team from BAe had come in, got them flyable and had taken them to BAe to get overhauled for onward delivery to Lebanon.



..

Probably safer for all concerned than selling them the AVPIN fuel needed to start their Hunters

Of course they have their own agenda racedo, as does everyone. But you'll have to explain how Lebanon as a Hezbollah theme park helps ours?

Shot

Hezbollah is elected member of Govt.

Try flipping your thinking around race. Would that be the case if Lebanon had effective armed forces to call on? Ditto for the various invading/infiltrating foreign armies and the ghastly sectarian militias they've had to endure.

Any increase in arms to Lebannon only has one outcome.

Saudis and France got bloodied in Syria so now they starting it again in Lebannon, which needs this like a hole in the head...............
Saudis paying back France because it wanted to start a war against Iran.
France aim is to attract the billions of Petro dollars that are flowing around from GCC.

You're very focused on the motivation behind this..and you're probably 100 per cent right that it's not been done for altruistic reasons. But surely it's better to have the balance of power held by accountable regular armed forces under democratic control rather than the murderous mix of fundamentalists and bandits who have done so in the recent past?