Hidden Reasons behind Cut in Saudi Aid to Lebanon Army: Analyst
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A senior Lebanese analyst laid bare a number of factors in Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut off funding for military aid to Lebanon, pointing to Beirut’s refusal to free a Saudi prince it had arrested for narcotics trafficking as one of the reasons.
In an interview with the Tasnim News Agency, Hisham Jaber said Saudis put pressure on Lebanon to liberate the detained prince, but faced with a rebuff, the Al Saud held Lebanon’s Hezbollah accountable and stopped providing financial support for the Lebanese army.
He underlined that it will be a shame for Lebanon to accept Saudi Arabia’s conditional help, while Iran had already offered to give Lebanon a series of military items as a gift.
Jaber also referred to Saudi Arabia’s huge budget deficit as well as internal divisions within the royal family as other reasons behind its decision to cut off funding for military aid to Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia announced on Friday it has halted a $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon in protest against Hezbollah group fighting in support of Syria’s army.
Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel said in reaction that Iran’s initiative to arm the Lebanese army is now more seriously on agenda, especially because anti-Iran sanctions were removed in mid-January.
The Lebanese government should now take a political decision, Moqbel said, urging the administration not to miss the chance for the arming of Lebanon’s army in their fight against terrorist challenges.
