BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army received a shipment of Chinese weapons Friday, the latest in a recent series of international arms deliveries to help Lebanon contain the militants on its eastern border with Syria.
The Army statement did not specify what types of weapons and ammunition, or the quantity of the arms, were included in the shipment, which arrived in Beirut’s port before noon.
The Lebanese Army has been shelling militant positions for months on its northeastern border where ISIS and Nusra Front fighters are holed up.
In recent weeks there has been debate over whether the Army should enter Arsal’s outskirts to oust militants who are holding Lebanon’s 25 servicemen hostage.
The militants have been based in the mountains surrounding Arsal since spring 2014, when they were driven by Hezbollah and the Syrian army from major Qalamoun cities.
Lebanon in April received the first batch of French weapons financed by the $3 billion Saudi arms grant, which included armored vehicles, helicopters, truck-mounted cannons and Milan anti-tank missiles.
In addition to the $3 billion military aid, Saudi Arabia has also promised an additional $1 billion grant to purchase arms and equipment to the Lebanese Army and security forces to help them in the ongoing battle against militants. The Army has also received a series of U.S. weapons shipments.
Earlier this month, the Lebanese Army has received a shipment of anti-tank missiles from the U.S. government. The shipment included an untold number of BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles and their launch pads.
