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Saudi Arabia Cancels $3 Billion Aid to Lebanon
(Defense News) Awad Mustafa - Saudi Arabia has suspended a $3 billion aid package to the Lebanese Army to buy French weapons, according to statement by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The kingdom also cancelled the remainder of $1 billion in aid it had earmarked for Lebanon's internal security service. "This shows that there is a consideration from the kingdom that the Lebanese government has very little control over the country's affairs, with Hizbullah and Iran having the majority control over affairs in Lebanon," said Riad Kahwaji, CEO of the Institute for Gulf and Near East Military Analysis, a Dubai think tank. He also noted "Lebanon's lack of support to Saudi Arabia in the international political arena like the Arab League where Lebanon has refused to support the Arab unanimous position condemning the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Iran." Over the past eight and a half years Lebanon has received U.S. military aid worth $1 billion, said David Hale, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.