US to donate unmanned military aircraft to Lebanon

The United States is to donate 12 Raven unmanned aircraft to the Lebanese army as part of its military assistance programme, the US embassy announced on Tuesday. The aircraft would be provided "in the coming months," an embassy statement said. Lebanese army commander General Jean Kahwaji and Defence Minister Elias Murr agreed to the donation while visiting the United States earlier this year, it added. The US Defence Department is also training Lebanese army pilots on the Raven as "part of the comprehensive, robust US military assistance programme to Lebanon," the statement said. The Raven has electronic sensors providing immediate intelligence information and can perform remote reconnaissance and surveillance. US military assistance to Lebanon has totalled more than 410 million dollars (309 million euros) since 2006 and includes aircraft, tanks, artillery and training.

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