Russia Offers Military Aid to Lebanese Army

The Lebanese Army has been offered combat helicopters, tanks and artillery pieces with ammunition and shells as free military aid from Russia, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al Hariri has said.

The offer includes six Mi-24 helicopters, 31 T-72 assault tanks, 36 mortars for 130mm shells and around half a million rounds of medium-calibre ammunition, according to the Gulf Times.

In February, Russia agreed to a request from Lebanon for Mi-24 helicopter gunships instead of the MIG-29 fighter jets.

Hariri expects to finalise the deal soon and Lebanese helicopter pilots are already training for the new aircraft.