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Last update - 18:30 26/11/2008
Lebanon asks Iran to supply its army with midsize weapons
By DPA
Tags: Israel news, Iran, weapons 

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman recently asked Iran for medium-sized weapons for Lebanon's army, in a move aimed at shifting Iran's assistance from the country's militant Hezbollah movement to the state, a Lebanese government official said Wednesday.

The official, who requested anonymity, said Suleiman had emphasized during a two-day visit to Tehran earlier this week that he was not seeking long-range missiles or jet fighters, but rather modern medium arms that would help the Lebanese army combat terrorism and maintain national security.

The source told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had assured his Lebanese counterpart that Iran would be ready to assist Lebanon in this regard.
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"The Iranians vowed to support Lebanon in all key dossiers, particularly the national dialogue among the rival factions," the source said.

Iran is a staunch supporter of the militant Shiite Hezbollah movement, which is also backed by Syria. Tehran is believed to be Hezbollah's main arms supplier.

Hezbollah is the only Lebanese group which did not have to hand over its weapons in 1989, under the Saudi-sponsored Taef accord which ended Lebanon's 15 years of civil war.

The group has insisted that its weapons were for "resistance against Israeli occupation" of the country's south.

Israel pulled out of south Lebanon in 2000, but kept control over the disputed Shaba Farms area.

Hezbollah, which is classified as a terrorist group by the United States, has ignored United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for it to disarm and is widely believed to have expanded its arsenal since its month-long war with Israel in mid-2006.

The group's rivals in Lebanon, including Saudi-backed politician Saad Hariri, have argued that the Hezbollah arsenal undermines the state. Hezbollah insists its guerrilla army, known as "The Resistance," is vital for defending Lebanon from Israel.

The weapons became an even more divisive issue in Lebanon in May when Hezbollah used some of its military power to briefly take control of the Muslim half of Beirut, effectively imposing many of its terms to end an 18-month political crisis.

But it has said it is willing to discuss a defense strategy that would define the role of its guerrillas and the Lebanese army in confronting what it sees as an Israeli threat.

On Monday, Suleiman became the third Lebanese president to visit Iran since its 1979 Islamic revolution.

He met with Ahmadinejad and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and visited a weapons exhibition.

Related articles:
  • Iran's Khamenei: Lebanon needs unity to 'confront the Zionist regime'
  • Rival Lebanese factions begin dialogue on Hezbollah weapons
  • Top Iran officials recommend preemptive strike against Israel
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      1.   Lebanon asks Iran to supply its army with midsize weapons 18:12  |  American 26/11/08
      2.   Well, whyever not? 18:15  |  Silvienne 26/11/08
      3.   israel`s foreign policy is a DISASTER 18:17  |  Dave 26/11/08
      4.   Midsize weapons...? 18:33  |  Stephen. 26/11/08
      5.   more of those iranian made silk worm missles 18:40  |  that hez used 26/11/08
      6.   one thing is clear ... 19:18  |  Ben 26/11/08
      7.   Iran`s sphere of influence in Latin America 19:19  |  Lou Medel 26/11/08
      8.   Just think. 19:26  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      9.   An interesting development 19:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 26/11/08
      10.   Stephen - Who? 19:30  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      11.   #10. Mark Lincoln. 19:57  |  Stephen. 26/11/08
      12.   Lou Medel - it shall take a while 20:04  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      13.   Armed To The Teeth 20:36  |  Yanatan 26/11/08
      14.   I don`t know for certain Stephen 20:37  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      15.   Crazy neighbors? 21:04  |  Natallie Durson 26/11/08
      16.   the sunnis had shot themselves in the foot 21:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/08
      17.   #.14. Mark Lincoln. 21:16  |  Stephen. 26/11/08
      18.   wy not ME Nukes Free Zone? 21:28  |  Antonio da Silva 26/11/08
      19.   Yanatan - I guess it matters what lessons you teach 21:49  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      20.   Antonio de Silva - nuke free ME? 22:00  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      21.   #20, Mark Lincoln 22:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/08
      22.   #20, MarkL 22:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/11/08
      23.   Mark Lincoln 23:14  |  Walid 26/11/08
      24.   re: Antonio da Silva 23:17  |  UsedToPostHere 26/11/08
      25.   re: that hez used 23:23  |  UsedToPostHere 26/11/08
      26.   Cipora`s reading problem 23:30  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      27.   Accepted 23:32  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      28.   Cipora - events in Lebanon 23:40  |  Mark Lincoln 26/11/08
      29.   what a good idea the army might support the govt. against hizboll 00:10  |  victor hardman 27/11/08
      30.   victor hardman? what a great idea you might get some reading skil 00:45  |  better yet 27/11/08
      31.   The end of israel will not be 00:58  |  someone 27/11/08
      32.   UsedToPostHere - jerk 01:18  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      33.   #28, Mark Lincoln 01:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/11/08
      34.   Iran will be final winner in meadle east 01:26  |  Ash 27/11/08
      35.   Dream on Victor 01:38  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      36.   :: Midsize weapons? 02:38  |  Matty Groves 27/11/08
      37.   Heh, some damn good Misinformation there, Mark 03:28  |  Awake 27/11/08
      38.   Israel world`s 4th biggest arms exporter 05:33  |  Pete Eriksen 27/11/08
      39.   Another Predictable Result of the IDF`s Collapse 06:45  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/11/08
      40.   What the Fuck is a "medium size" weapon?? 07:24  |  Jimmy 27/11/08
      41.   For the money ittakes to buy one F-35.... 07:26  |  Jimmy 27/11/08
      42.   Blowback`s a Bitch 07:27  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/11/08
      43.   "Don`t Ask, Don`t Tell" Policy 07:41  |  Shtarka 27/11/08
      44.   The Lebanese army. 08:21  |  Mario Sala 27/11/08
      45.   #33, jimmy 08:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/11/08
      46.   #3, DAVE, it`s too late, the ball is rolling 09:04  |  VIPER 27/11/08
      47.   #13, YANATAN, i`ve been saying it all along 09:08  |  VIPER 27/11/08
      48.   #35 mark thinks that nasrallah will become commander in chief? 12:21  |  victor hardman 27/11/08
      49.   Mario Sala - living in the pat 12:28  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      50.   Mark of Lewiston - more blowback 12:46  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      51.   No Victor I never said that 12:49  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      52.   re: Mark Lincoln 00:47  |  UsedToPostHere 28/11/08
      53.   re: Jimmy 00:53  |  UsedToPostHere 28/11/08
      54.   midsize meaning not nuclear weapons like you have 06:08  |  Z 28/11/08
      55.   re: Z 19:42  |  UsedToPostHere 28/11/08
      56.   iran is getting its way in destablizing iraq with US troops 20:50  |  glenna 28/11/08
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