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France to speed arms delivery to Lebanon as violence continues | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
France says that it is to speed up the delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army, in response to the rising violence in the country. | |
In the latest clash, gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying soldiers in the city of Tripoli, the army said. | |
Meanwhile on the border with Syria two Lebanese soldiers have reportedly been killed, as fighting with Syrian rebels continues for a fourth day. | |
A young girl has also been shot dead, after clashes spread. | A young girl has also been shot dead, after clashes spread. |
The fighting on the border began on Saturday when Syrian rebels raided Arsal, a mainly Sunni Lebanese town. | |
The rebels objected to the detention by Lebanese forces of an alleged member of Syria's Islamist militant group al-Nusra Front. | |
At least 15 soldiers have been killed in the area since the weekend. | At least 15 soldiers have been killed in the area since the weekend. |
In December, Saudi Arabia pledged to spend $3bn (£1.7bn) on French military equipment and weapons for Lebanon's army. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), have long complained of being underfunded in a country rife with well-equipped militias. | |
The French Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani said on Tuesday that France is "...fully committed to supporting the Lebanese army, a pillar of stability and unity in Lebanon." | |
Fighting spreads north | Fighting spreads north |
The district around Arsal, in the north of the Bekaa valley, is known for continuing tension between the Lebanese army and Syrian militias. | |
Army units were trying to recapture the courthouse in Arsal from the rebels, as well as the area surrounding a customs building, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. | |
On Monday night, fighting broke out in Tripoli. The northern port city is divided between a Sunni population and the minority Shia Alawite community which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | |
Reports say firing erupted after a demonstration against the army's handling of the situation in Arsal. Another spark is thought to have been reports that a number of Sunni clerics were wounded as they entered Arsal to try to broker a ceasefire. | |
The young girl was reported killed when a bullet hit her in the head in exchanges with gunmen around Lebanese army positions in Tripoli. | The young girl was reported killed when a bullet hit her in the head in exchanges with gunmen around Lebanese army positions in Tripoli. |