United States gives 200 M113 tracked armoured vehicles personnel carrier to Lebanon 0801133

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Defence News - United States
 
 
Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 10:31 AM
 
United States gives 200 M113 tracked armoured vehicles personnel carrier to Lebanon.
The United States has given 200 M113 tracked armoured personnel carrier vehicles to Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Monday, January 7, 2013, bolstering forces that have been struggling to deal with sectarian violence inflamed by the war across the border in Syria. The M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs) arrived by ship to Beirut on Sunday, the army said in a statement.
     
The United States has given 200 M113 tracked armoured personnel carrier vehicles to Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Monday, January 7, 2013, bolstering forces that have been struggling to deal with sectarian violence inflamed by the war across the border in Syria. The M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs) arrived by ship to Beirut on Sunday, the army said in a statement.
M113 of Lebanese army with Russian made ZU-23-2 23mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Around 1,100 M113 armoured vehicles are already in service with the Lebanese Army.
     

The United States has provided more than $140 million in equipment and assistance to the Lebanese armed forces in the past six months, including six Huey 2 helicopters, a 42-metre coastal security craft, more than 1,000 guns - including grenade launchers -- and 38 million rounds of ammunition.

Lebanon, still rebuilding after its 15-year civil war, has seen clashes between gunmen loyal to opposing sides in neighboring Syria's conflict, mostly in the northern port town of Tripoli, but also in the capital Beirut and the southern coastal city of Sidon.

Syrian forces have occasionally breached the Lebanese border to battle with rebels who are fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and take refuge in Lebanese border towns. Syrian mortar bombs have also targeted Lebanese villages.

Few expect a fight between Lebanon and its much larger neighbor Syria, a country whose troops were garrisoned in Lebanon until 2005 and still has influence over the security services.