Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 18
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Lebanese Minister of Defense Samir Mokbel arrived in Tehran, Iran on Oct. 18 for a three-day official visit.
The minister's visit came upon an official invitation by his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan, IRNA news agency reported.
Mokbel, who serves also as the Lebanon's deputy prime minister will discuss boosting of bilateral military ties, as well as the latest regional and international developments with Iranian officials.
During his visit to Beirut on Sept.30, Secretary of the Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that Iran will gift the Lebanese army with military equipment and weapons.
It should be noted that the Islamic State (IS) group has declared war against the Lebanese army, which they claim has assisted the Shiite Iranian-backed Hezbollah group that has de facto control over the government of Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia last year announced it would give the Lebanese army $3 billion to purchase weapons and equipment from France, but that deal has yet to be fully implemented.
In August, the kingdom offered another $1 billion in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.
Washington has also sought to bolster Lebanon's military, and this month announced it had delivered a new shipment of Hellfire missiles and would also supply light aircraft.