U.S. reiterates commitment to Lebanese army for self-defense

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale stressed Wednesday his country's commitment to back the Lebanese army for self-defense.

According to a statement by the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, Lebanese and U.S. officials oversaw in the Bekaa region of al-Taybeh the delivery of more than 200 anti-tank missiles, which the United States said will help Lebanon's army defend its borders against terrorists.

The 200 U.S.-made TOW-II missiles and launchers, were delivered in late May as part of a joint U.S.-Saudi effort to support Lebanon's army, Hale remarked.

"We are absolutely committed to making sure that the army has the capacity to be the sole defender of Lebanese territory and its borders, and is answerable to the state and to the Lebanese people through the state," he said.

Hale stressed "this is a long term commitment, and we will stand by Lebanon's side in this regard until these terrorists are defeated".

Jihadist fighters, including al-Qaida's linked al-Nusra Front and the extremist Islamic State (IS) are well entrenched on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

In August last year, the Lebanese army clashed in a five-day battle with the gunmen after they overran the border town of Arsal.

The gunmen abducted before withdrawing to Syria at least 35 soldiers and policemen, and al-Nusra later executed four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one.

The Lebanese government is negotiating through a Qatari mediator the release of the remaining captives.

The new missiles delivery comes in addition to artillery and ammunition that the U.S. provided to Lebanon in February. Endit