HAMAT, Lebanon (Reuters) — The United States delivered two A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Lebanon’s army on Tuesday (October 31), a sign of continued US support despite Israeli accusations that the Lebanese military is controlled by Hezbollah.
The planes are the first of six promised by the US and will be used as armed observation aircraft, a security source in Lebanon said. They represent a big upgrade for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
In a ceremony in Hamat Air Base in Lebanon’s mountains, US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard said there was a strong bond between the United States and Lebanon.
“The significant increase in LAF combat capability that this aircraft represents will ensure that the LAF will remain a national unifying force, a bulwark against extremism and terrorism, and the only real defender of Lebanon,” Richard said.
Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun said the delivery marked a “new era” in relations with the US armed forces, calling the Tucanos “a qualitative leap in improving the aerial capabilities of the LAF.”
Earlier this month, US-ally Israel had said that the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite political movement Hezbollah had gained control over Lebanon’s conventional military, which the Lebanese army denies.
Hezbollah, which was designated as a terrorist group by the US Department of State in 1997, last fought Israel in a war in 2006. Lebanon is formally in a state of war with Israel.
The US says it has invested over $1.5 billion in LAF training and equipment and has trained more than 32,000 Lebanese troops.