"Russian Arms deal for Lebanon" Topic

Russia will be giving Lebanon a free, unconditional gift of arms and military supplies to strengthen the Lebanese army, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri this week.

The gift will include six Mi-24 attack helicopters, 31 T-72 tanks, 36 130-millimeter artillery pieces and 500,000 shells to be used by existing Lebanese artillery.

read more: link

The Lebanese Ambassador to Russian Federation, Chawki Bou Nasser told Sputnik News on Tuesday that Beirut requested a large number of Kornet ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles), T-72 Tanks, and advanced cannons from Moscow.

"Lebanon needs weapons to fight these people [terrorists], and especially the Russian rockets, there is one well known, Kornet, because Lebanon got some of the weapons and used them effectively, and is still working with the Russian side to provide these kinds of weapons… Kornet, and the cannons, and the tanks, T-72 tanks, although old — but Russia promised to renovate them and to update the systems in these tanks — and of course the shells for the cannons, ammunition," Nassar said.

"Lebanon is, of course, expecting to get these within a year," the ambassador said, expressing hope that Russia will also follow up on its previous pledge to supply up to nine helicopters through a grant.

link

Very generous of them.

Very nice guys …

Well the Lebanese have, on the quiet, been very effective against ISIS when they've tried to cross the border.

I assume the Syrians would like that effectiveness to continue – and they might be a little stretched by now.

There's nothing there to scare the Israelis.

Lebanon's army had been (note I said "had") been secular, I hope they return to this position.

Hopefully all the AT capabilities will help them stand up against Hezbollah.

I agree cw … And much of their equipment is/was US. We had two Lebanese LT's in our Inf Ofc Basic course in '79. They were both combat vets … IIRC …

I am more pessimistic I guess.

I was channel hopping recently and caught a bit of the ross kemp programme about lebanon.
The army had their work cut out stopping the various factions killing each other.
I can't recall exactly when it was he was over there. The syrian situation was on though. Maybe a year back.

So far as I'm aware the Lebanese Army is still secular. It's about the only but if government that works quite well.

Their kit is mostly American. But it's old and they can't afford to upgrade.

The Lebanese Army defers to Hezbollah nowadays and works around their claimed territories, which a sizable chunk of Lebanon. This is because they don't have the strength to challenge Hezbollah and so must leave them alone

The Lebanese Army had been secular and a respected force for maintaining peace and balance in the past. Unfortunately, that was destroyed during their Civil War and then purposely kept weak by Syria, although they are still a positive force in Lebanon's collective memory.

I hope that they can return to being this kind of secular balance of power within Lebanon.

That they are weak doesn't mean they're not secular. They are still a neutral force in the country even if they have the sense not to tangle with Hezbollah.

They have no apparent problems in keeping the peace between supporters of different Syrian factions including Hezbollah allies.

I do wonder if the upgrade will make the Hezzies nervous though. They're not the power they were.

But it's old and they can't afford to upgrade.

That can be said about much NATO as well …

The Lebanese Army would be more than happy to take of Hezbollah, they lack political support domestically and they are so under armed its not funny. Remember the army has a very strong maronite christian and druze base, though I guess that knowledge escapes many.

Religions in Lebanon …

Muslim 54% (27% Sunni, 27% Shia), Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Greek Catholic, 6.5% other Christian), Druze 5.6%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, and Mormons

According to Wikipedia

I think the army lacks Shi'a Muslims though due to the fact they tend to join Hezbollah.

Could be wrong though.

That would be a reasonable assumption …

The Russians are only offering arms to the Lebanese army "without conditions" because the US is trying to push through congress a $100 USD million arms package, which may encounter resistance due to fears that the weapons might end up in the hands of Hezbollah.

The Russians are not concerned with the possibility of course. It's simply an opportunity for Moscow to one-up the United States. Doesn't matter, all indications are that the next POTUS would take a much harder line vis-a-vis Russia on all fronts (NATO expansion, Syria, etc.).

Which hsows how daft the US Congress is.

For a start the Lebanese Army has – so far a sI'm aware – no history is handing stuff over to Hezbollah.

Secondly, Hezbollah can get hold of anything it wants from the Iranians.

How about nukes?

How about porn? Porn has been discovered to be the #1 item found in captured terrorist cellphones, tablets and computers. They even found a box of porn in Osama's bedroom.

Given Lebanon has internet access I doubt Hezbollah needs the Iranians to access pornography…..

And the Iranians don't have nukes so the point is moot.

You made a general claim about what Hezbollah wants.

My concern that if intel reports are correct and I believe most are. The Iranians will have nucs much sooner than later. Not only with North Korean or Pak help. But because of the huge windfall of cash that has recently made it's way into their coffers. We will see, that was a mistake …

A few decades back the US gov't thought it would work if they paid the Norks NOT to make nucs. We see how well that turned out.

A few decades back the US gov't thought it would work if they paid the Norks NOT to make nucs. We see how well that turned out.

The Iranians are bound by much stricter IAEA verification and inspection protocols than N. Korea, and unless – like the N. Koreans – they deny access to arms inspector teams and pull out of the agreement they should be given a chance to act in good faith.

Let us hope … We'll just have to see. But so far they have violated some of the agreement already. Like trying to get a deployable missile possibly using some North Korean tech.

One may put 2 + 2 together and see this does in fact = 4. I.e. a deployable nuclear device … I could be wrong. But with WMDs it's a 0 sum game. By the time you know for sure … it's too late.