France to deliver military equipment to Lebanon after aid contract ends

France is prepared to provide weapons and military equipment to Lebanon to help its military forces combat jihadists under a 3-billion-U.S.-dollar project financed by Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius hailed the accord's signing, which was initially agreed on in December, 2013, to provide the under-equipped army in Beirut with land, air and naval equipment.

The French diplomat said the agreement would help strengthen the Lebanese army, fight terrorism, and help Lebanon's unity and stability.

The Syrian crisis has been looming over Beirut since al Qaeda's Syrian wing Nusra Front crossed into Lebanon and attacked the Lebanese border town of Arsal in August. As a result, Lebanese officials have asked for rapid arms delivery in order to fight jihadists on Syria's border. Enditem