BEIRUT, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — Iran would supply Lebanon with a missile defense system, Lebanese news site Now Lebanon reported Saturday, citing an anonymous Lebanese diplomatic source.
Iran is expected to make the offer to Lebanon during Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s upcoming visit to Beirut shortly after the holy month of Ramadan. Iran would also offer to supply some other weapons during his visit, said the report.
Iran has offered to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) after some U.S. congressmen placed a hold on American military aid to Lebanon due to concerns about Shiite militant group Hezbollah’s influence on the army.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Israeli diplomats are asking the U.S. and France to cut aid to the LAF following the Aug. 3 Aadaiseh border skirmish between the Israeli and Lebanese armies.
