Washington was helping Lebanon counter the threat of ISIS by providing its Army and security forces with needed arms and equipment, U.S. Ambassador David Hale said Friday, adding that the country's presidential vacuum was obstructing efforts to combat the jihadist threat.
In a statement, Hale said that the U.S. had delivered a series of accelerated arms shipments to the Lebanese Army at the request of the military following last month’s battles between Lebanese troops and militants from ISIS and the Nusra Front.
“These deliveries, paid for by the American people, will help the Army secure Lebanon’s borders and defeat extremist groups that have crossed it. Specifically, this week brought the delivery of more Hellfire missiles to the Lebanese Army,” he said.
Describing it as another milestone, Hale said the U.S. would send an armed Cessna and other light air-support aircraft as requested by Prime Minister Tammam Salam's government and the Lebanese Army. He said the U.S. would also arm a Cessna it had previously provided to the Army.
“It is our intention to support those requests for additional aircraft, using funds generously made available to Lebanon by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said, referring to the $1 billion Riyadh has granted to the Army following the Arsal battles.
Clashes in the border town of Arsal last month raised concerns that gunmen from Syria sought to play out a scenario similar to that in Iraq and Syria where ISIS has gained control over swaths of land.
ISIS and Nusra Front are holding at least 22 soldiers and policemen captured during the five-day clashes. ISIS has so far beheaded two Lebanese soldiers while Nusra Front has released seven of their captives.
Hale also said that the U.S. was assisting Lebanon’s security forces, saying that Washington donated bomb detection tools, explosive safety gear and other equipment to the Internal Security Forces last week.
“We applaud Lebanon’s policy of dissociation from the conflict in Syria, just as we join in supporting your response to the dangerous spillover into Lebanon of that conflict.”
While condemning the recent beheading of two Army soldiers by ISIS, Hale reiterated that Lebanon needed to elect a new president to better confront the threat of such radical groups.
“Brutality only strengthens our resolve to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, through military, intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic efforts. This effort will require time and persistence,” he said, using an alternative moniker for the group.
“Left unchecked, ISIL threatens your sovereignty, stability, and prosperity. Fortunately, Lebanon is not alone in dealing with this threat. And together, we will succeed.”
“But success can best be built on unity and focus – unity within Lebanon, and between Lebanon and its friends. As I have said before, the absence of a president is depriving the country of an important symbol of unity, and distracting all of us from fully confronting the real threat.”
