Lebanese army to receive dozens of VAB APCs from France.

On Monday, November 6th, Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defense, made an announcement with historical significance, Reuters reports. He declared that France would be sending several dozen VAB armored vehicles to the Lebanese army to assist them in their patrol missions within the country. This announcement carries historical weight, given France's long-standing involvement in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (FINUL/UNIFIL).
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Sébastien Lecornu, French Minister of Defense, meets with French soldiers from UNIFIL followed by a VAB APC on November 2, 2023, in Deir Keifa (Picture source: SCH Christian Hamilcaro/DICOD/Ministry of Defense)

As France is progressively replacing its aging VAB armored vehicles in different variants with Griffons, the country can offer them at the same pace. Ukraine and some African armies are already among the beneficiaries of such gifts.

Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defense, visited Lebanon for three days from Wednesday, November 1st to Friday, November 3rd. He traveled to Beirut and to the UNIFIL camp in Deir Kifa in the southern part of the country. In a context of increased tensions, the minister wanted to "reaffirm France's commitment to the stability of Lebanon" and its "support" for the Lebanese Armed Forces so that they "can carry out their mission across the entire country."

With this goal in mind, a few months after his last visit in the New Year of 2023, Sébastien Lecornu held multiple meetings with local political and military authorities. He notably met with Najib Mikati, the Lebanese Prime Minister, and Maurice Sleem, his Lebanese counterpart. During his meeting with Najib Mikati, he emphasized that Lebanon could "count on France's friendship." He continued, "We provide and will continue to provide support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL because Lebanon's stability is crucial for the country and the region."

To reaffirm France's continuous commitment to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed in the southern part of the country since 1978, Sébastien Lecornu visited Deir Keifa to interact with the French contingent – approximately 700 soldiers participating in Operation Daman, out of the 10,500 UN peacekeepers tasked with ensuring stability in the sector. "France wishes for UNIFIL to continue playing the role entrusted to it by the United Nations Security Council. It is in the interest of all, for the security of Southern Lebanon," noted the minister.

As a testament to their long-standing friendship, France and Lebanon also share a common memorial history. A few days after the 40th anniversary of the Drakkar bombing, Sébastien Lecornu paid his respects in Beirut at the monument honoring the memory of the 126 soldiers who gave their lives for France in Lebanon, including the 58 paratroopers killed in the explosion on October 23, 1983.

Sébastien Lecornu also announced that France would play the role of a "Lead Nation," in coordination with partners willing to provide humanitarian assistance, for the civilians in Gaza. The helicopter carrier Dixmude, which will be reinforced with medical capabilities, will soon be deployed to relieve the Tonnerre. "This deployment is part of an overall maneuver, including medical supplies already on-site and that we will continue to send to Egypt with the Air and Space Force," the minister explained. Since October 28th, 17 tons of humanitarian aid destined for Gaza have been delivered via A400M through Egypt. Two more military flights, scheduled in the coming days, will deliver an additional 37 tons of aid to benefit the Palestinians in Gaza. This emergency humanitarian cargo will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent.

Defense News November 2023