US to deliver armed light Cessna aircraft to Lebanon to combat ISIL

BEIRUT, Sept 12 (KUNA) -- The US Ambassador to Lebanon has confirmed his country's intention to supply the Lebanese military with an armed Cessna aircraft and other support aircraft to face the threat of armed Islamists.
After meeting Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam, David Hale said that the delivery, which comes after a similar delivery last year, would be funded by Saudi funds that had been recently pledged to the Lebanese military.
"Over the last two weeks, a series of accelerated shipments of American arms and armaments have arrived here," he said in a statement.
"This week brought the delivery of more Hellfire missiles to the Lebanese Army.
"The Lebanese government and army have requested additional aircraft from the United States - an armed Cessna and other light air support aircraft," he added.
"It is our intention to support those requests for additional aircraft, using funds generously made available to Lebanon by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Ambassador Hale said another Cessna previously provided by the US to the Lebanese army would also be armed.
He condemned the beheading of two Lebanese soldiers by Islamic State (ISIL) insurgents, noting that the threat of the jihadist group is shared by the US.
Any diplomatic solution to their threat has diminished, he said, and the barbarism expressed by the group has spurred moves to destroy it through military and intelligence means.
He also pledged US commitment to supporting Lebanon tackle the group, calling on the Arab nation's people to unite in the face of this "threat" and to hastily usher in a new president. (end) wsm.sd