US gives ammunition and artillery to Lebanon

The US has delivered ammunition and artillery worth over $25 million in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, the US Embassy to Lebanon announced on 8 February.

The ammunition and artillery was delivered by the M/V Advantage vessel at the Beirut Port. American Ambassador David Hale said: 'It includes 70 M198 howitzers and almost 26 million rounds of ammunition and artillery of various shapes and sizes, including heavy artillery.'

With this assistance, Lebanon has become the fifth largest recipient of US military foreign assistance. It has received over $1 billion in assistance in the last eight years.

Meanwhile, France will begin deliveries of weapons to Lebanon in April, with Saudi Arabia having pledged $3 billion to fund the purchase of these weapons. The weapons will include surveillance drones, heavy artillery, armoured personnel carriers and helicopter gunships.