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U.S. Delivers Hellfire Missiles, Precision Munitions to Lebanese Army
When feeling cynical, the thought occurs that is one way to get them into the hands of Hizb'allah...
[AnNahar] The United States delivered Friday a new shipment of Hellfire missiles and artillery munitions to the Lebanese army, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

"Ambassador David Hale visited Beirut Airbase this morning to inspect America's latest delivery of 'Hellfire' missiles and artillery munitions to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)," it said.

The shipment included 50 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles
Hezbollah Lebanon has an air force that can deliver Hellfires?
and 560 artillery rounds, including some precision munitions.

"This represents $8.6 million worth of U.S. security assistance to Leb and boosts the LAF's ability to secure Leb's borders against violent Lion of Islams," the embassy said.

The Hellfire air-to-ground missiles are used on Cessna Caravan aircraft previously delivered to the army by the U.S.

The missiles "allow the LAF to strike confirmed Lion of Islam positions without exposing themselves to return fire," the embassy explained.

"The other artillery rounds include laser guided projectiles -- the first munition of its kind in the LAF's arsenal -- which will provide the LAF with a precision-strike capability at significant stand-off ranges," it said.

The embassy noted that "today's munitions delivery demonstrates America's sustained commitment to ensure that the Lebanese Armed Forces has the support it needs to be the sole defender of Lebanese territory and its borders, and is answerable to the state and to the Lebanese people through the state."

In August 2014, the army fought deadly battles with Syria-based snuffies from the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
 and al-Nusra
...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli sh-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ...
 Front groups in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Several countries boosted their military aid to Leb in the wake of the festivities.
Posted by: trailing wife 2015-10-11
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=432307