| The US and Lebanon have set up a joint military commission to institutionalize their bilateral military relationship, the two countries announced Monday. The two sides said the commission would provide an annual opportunity for the two countries to discuss current and future military cooperation goals. An inaugural session was initiated Monday by Defense Minister Elias Murr and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Mary Beth Long. A joint statement issued by the US Embassy and the Lebanese army said the two countries signed three military contracts worth $63 million in US grants to the Lebanese army for secure communications, ammunition and infantry weapons. |