A $25 million shipment of U.S. military equipment arrived in Lebanon on Sunday to aid the Lebanese Army in its fight against Islamic State militants along its border with Syria.
"Recent attacks against Lebanon's Army only strengthen America's resolve to stand in solidarity with the people of Lebanon to confront these threats," the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said in a statement, reported The Daily Star.
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale said the equipment includes more than 70 M1989 howitzers and more than 26 million rounds of ammunition and artillery "of all shapes and sizes, including heavy artillery," reported The Guardian.
A handover ceremony was conducted at Beirut's port Sunday morning and was attended by American and Lebanese military officers.
Lebanon is now the fifth largest recipient of U.S. foreign military assistance, Hale said, adding that the U.S. gave the country more than $100 million in weapons last year and over $1 billion worth in the past eight years.
The U.S. will continue to help Lebanon "until the job is done," Hale said, reported the Star. "We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous."
Several extremist attacks have targeted Lebanon troops over the past few months, with the most serious occurring in August, when members from the Islamic State and Nusra Front captured two dozen Lebanese soldiers. Four were killed and the rest are still held captive.
"We are very proud of this and this is top-of-the-line equipment. This is the best that there is in the marketplace. It's what our soldiers use," Hale said. "I know that in a matter of days it's going to be what your brave soldiers are using in the battle to defeat terrorism and extremism that is pouring across the border from Syria."
France and Saudi Arabia have both committed to providing Lebanon with $3 billion in support, with the first shipment of weapons expected to arrive in April.
