BEIRUT: The first batch of French weapons from a Saudi-funded military aid package will not be delivered to the Lebanese Army before March, a local newspaper reported Saturday.
As-Safir quoted diplomatic sources in Paris and said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had informed Saudi officials of the delay during his latest visit to the kingdom Sunday.
The aid package was announced earlier this year by former President Michel Sleiman, and includes $3 billion in French weapons, equipment, vehicles and training funded by Saudi Arabia and directed to Lebanon's military.
Saudi Arabia also announced another pledge in 2014, $1 billion for weapons and training to boost the counter-terrorism capacities of Lebanon’s security forces.
The second donation was announced during the clashes between the army and militants from the Nusra Front and ISIS in the northeastern border town of Arsal last August, and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri overseeing its delivery.
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