Israel Matzav

France providing heavy weapons to Lebanese army

The Lebanese army is dominated by, and in cahoots with Hezbullah. Three summers ago, they murdered an IDF officer who was supervising tree pruning along Israel's border with Lebanon. So it's deeply disturbing to hear that France is providing the Lebanese Army with heavy weapons.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, a recent meeting held between French and Lebanese Defense Ministry officials discussed the matter.

France decided in light of the meetings to supply the Lebanese army with anti-tank missiles and sophisticated surface-to-air missiles.

Informed sources told the newspaper that Paris is “confident that the Lebanese army command is controlling the institution despite what rumors said.”

“France is positive that Hizbullah will not be able to receive the arms,” the sources said.

I don't believe that Hezbullah will not be able to receive those arms, I don't believe that it matters whether they formally receive them because Hezbullah and the Lebanese Armed Forces are on the same side. And against whom do you think they will use those 'sophisticated surface-to-air missiles'? Against Israeli reconnaissance flights monitoring Hezbullah activity, of course....

The U.S. had continuously objected the transfer of heavy arms to the Lebanese army saying the missiles could end up being used against Israel given the influence of Hizbullah.  

Israel needs to tell France that we will prevent those weapons from reaching the LAF just like we (allegedly) are preventing all kind of sophisticated weapons from reaching Bashar al-Assad.

What could go wrong? 

Labels: France, Hezbullah, Lebanese Armed Forces, Lebanon

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:22 AM