Al-Faisal: Saudi Arabia Ready to Assist Lebanon in Battle with Terrorists
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, whose country has joined the U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State group militants in Syria, said Riyadh was ready to help Lebanon if it asked for assistance in its battle against jihadists.
In remarks carried by An Nahar newspaper on Thursday, al-Faisal said: “We have helped Lebanon to buy weapons through a $1 billion donation.”
Asked if Saudi Arabia would help Lebanon confront the wave of terrorism that it is facing, he said: “We would do so if it asks for assistance.”
He stated the Lebanese officials have appreciated the Saudi $1 billion grant.
“We hope it would have a bigger impact in protecting Lebanon's security,” he added.
The Lebanese army engaged last month in bloody gunbattles with jihadists from the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the IS, which took with them hostages from the military and police.
The fighters executed three of the captives and warned they would kill more hostages if the Lebanese authorities failed to meet their demands.
Al-Faisal said Wednesday that the U.S.-led campaign against the extremists "should start by putting an end to the causes of this terrorism."
"The regime in Syria is the cause of the appearance of ISIL," he said, adding it had created a security vacuum which had led to the group's rise.
"Our support for the moderate opposition should not be limited to the military sphere... but should also include practical steps to weaken the Syrian regime by an economic blockade," the prince said.
He also called on those responsible for crimes to be brought before international courts.
"The only thing that we expect is for this regime to go," al-Faisal added.
G.K.
M.T.
Source: Agence France Presse, Naharnet
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