Middle East

.
.
.

Saudis Pledge $3 Billion to Support Lebanon's Army
Grant Seeks to Bolster Armed Forces Against Iranian-Backed Hezbollah

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and MARIA ABI-HABIB
Dec. 29, 2013 2:43 p.m. ET

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304361604579288430866906254

BEIRUT—Saudi Arabia pledged $3 billion to bolster Lebanon's armed forces, in a challenge to the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militia's decadeslong status as Lebanon's main power broker and security force.

/snip/

Lebanon would use the Saudi grant to buy "newer and more modern weapons," from France, said Mr. Sleiman, an independent who has become increasingly critical of Hezbollah. It followed what he called "decades of unsuccessful efforts" to build a credible Lebanese national defense force.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Looks like Saudi Arabia is pushing for a proxy war with Iran seeing as they can't get the USA to bomb them,

yet.

(sigh)

CC