Saudi Arabia Announces $3 Billion in Military Aid for Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman

On Sunday, it was announced that Saudi Arabia is granting Lebanon three billion dollars in military aid.

They will be doing this partially by buying weapons from France, to give Lebanon.

Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president, made the announcement and added that he hoped France would move quickly on shipping the weapons.

He also stated his hope that France would consider aiding in training Lebanon's forces.

French President Francois Hollande responded that he was sure his country would be willing to assist an ally.

Saudi Arabia's goal is to allow the Lebanese military to become more powerful than Hezbollah, within Lebanon's borders.

Hezbollah, which is recognized as a terrorist group by several countries, currently wields much greater power than the military can.

This often allows the group to control national policy.