(Vatican Radio) Lebanese President Michel Sleiman announced on Sunday that Saudi Arabia
has undertaken to support the Lebanese army to the tune of $3bn. During a televised
address to the nation, Mr Sleiman said “the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is offering
this generous and appreciated aid of 3 billion dollars to the Lebanese army to strengthen
its capabilities”.
The address was broadcast shortly after the funeral of
senior Lebanese politician Mohamad Chatah, who died on Friday in a car bomb attack.
Mr Chatah was a Sunni Muslim and a staunch critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,
as well as of Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah movement which currently backs him. Hezbollah
militants are suspected of organising the attack, although no one has yet claimed
responsibility.
President Sleiman added the Saudi aid will allow the Lebanese
army to "confront terrorism", and will be used to buy weapons from France. French
President Francois Hollande, who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at boosting
commercial ties, said his country will "meet" any demand for weapons.
Saudi
Arabia’s proffered aid is being seen by many as the latest move in a regional war
by proxy between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran exerts a strong influence on the Syrian
conflict, and its spill-over into neighbouring Lebanon, through the Shia militant
group Hezbollah and its support for Syrian President Assad, while Saudi Arabia is
backing the majority-Sunni rebellion. Sunday’s announcement comes amid concerns that
this donation of military aid could further inflame sectarian tensions.