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Britain provides 10 mln USD in aid to Lebanese army

Xinhua, December 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Britain announced Friday a 10-million-U.S.-dollar support package to the Lebanese army for border security, as a latest show of the "train and equip" partnership between the two sides.

The money will be used to establish and equip a fourth Lebanese Land Border Regiment (LBR) with state of the art communications devices, mobile observation platforms, border watchtowers and Land Rovers to help secure the border.

The aid will "further secure the remaining 100 km stretch of Lebanon's border and complement the outstanding work of the army's three existing land border regiments," British Ambassador Designate to Lebanon Hugo Shorter said following his meeting with Lebanese Minister of Defense Samir Moqbel.

As Lebanon continues to face great challenges including terrorism and the spillover of the Syria conflict, Shorter said Britain is determined to stand by Lebanon as it "continues to defend its sovereignty and secure its stability and prosperity."

Moqbel said the British aid comes "at an important, indeed crucial time for Lebanon which is being targeted by terrorists."

Lebanon's Hzbollah group has long been fighting in Syria alongside the forces of President Bashar al-Assad against extremist Islamist militants, including those of the Islamic State (IS) who have threatened to target Hezbollah in his heartland.

On Nov. 12, two explosions rocked the Burj el-Barajneh area in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital Beirut, killing at least 35 people and injuring more than 180. The southern suburbs of Beirut are considered the stronghold of Hezbollah.

Reports said the IS had claimed responsibility for the bombings. Endit