UK admits having helped Lebanese Armed Forces for protecting borders from jihadi groups 

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Defence & Security News - UK & Lebanon
 
 
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 07:05 PM
 
 UK admits having helped Lebanese Armed Forces for protecting borders from jihadi groups
Britain's ambassador to Lebanon confirmed Friday the United Kingdom has spent around $30 million to build watchtowers and deliver military equipment to the Army to protect its borders from jihadi groups, reported yesterday the Lebanese newspaper Daily Star.
     
Britain's ambassador to Lebanon confirmed Friday the United Kingdom has spent around $30 million to build watchtowers and deliver military equipment to the Army to protect its borders from jihadi groups, reported yesterday the Lebanese newspaper Daily Star. LAF troops at border with Syria
     
Tom Fletcher also denied that the project was being run secretly, after a Telegraph report emerged two days ago alleging that a "clandestine British squad" was involved in construction of the watchtowers. "There has been some speculation in recent days about ‘secret’ support to the Army. I want to be clear about what we are providing. Since 2012, as I have previously announced, the U.K. has been supporting efforts by the LAF Land Border Regiments to observe and deter illegal armed actors in the border areas," an embassy statement quoted him as saying.

"We have allocated almost £20m ($31.4 million) to construct Protected Border Observation Posts along 140 km of the border, and to deliver Land Rovers, body armor, secure communications and ballistic protection for LAF positions," he added. The statement was issued after he met with Speaker Nabih Berri where the two discussed "the situation in the region, the ongoing dialogue over the presidential vacuum, and the effort to reduce tension inside Lebanon."