ID :
345405
Wed, 10/22/2014 - 11:31
Auther :

Iran Acting Responsibly By Equipping Lebanese Army

Tehran, Oct 22, IRNA - Iran’s readiness to provide free weapons and military equipment to Lebanon is an appropriate move which shows the country’s constructive role in the region, underscored Tuesday's edition of 'Iran Daily'. Iran has been fully and sincerely supporting Iraq and Syria, over the past few months, against ISIL and other terrorist groups and now plans to extend support to a third Middle Eastern country, added the English-language daily in its Opinion column. Iran-Lebanon strategic ties, which has the backing of most of the political factions in the Arab country, allows Beirut to equip its army with Iran’s help. The Lebanese army mainly uses Western weaponry produced by the US, Britain and France but it doesn’t have state-of-the-art military equipment. Therefore, it needs to modernize its army which largely has defensive systems. Iran’s decision to equip the Lebanese army is unconditional and not politically motivated, stated the paper. The offer of military assistance was made during a recent trip by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani to Lebanon and the country accepted the offer after consideration. Iran’s move is for defensive purposes and the current regional situation makes it urgent to equip Lebanon against Takfiri groups, it added. Western and Arab countries that are opposed to Iran’s decision are actually acting against Lebanon’s national security by politicizing the issue. Certain countries had pledged to supply military equipment to Lebanon but they didn’t do so and it’s pointless to stand idle and see country suffering from ISIL attacks, pointed out the paper. Iran is now compensating for the irresponsibility of countries that failed to keep their promises and play a real role in the fight against terrorism in the region, the daily stressed in conclusion./end

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