France delivers 39 armored vehicles to Lebanese army

ISTANBUL

France has delivered 39 armored personnel carriers to the Lebanese Armed Forces, fulfilling a prior commitment made by French officials, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The delivery “aims to guarantee Lebanon’s territorial integrity, the protection of civilians, regardless of their faith, and the preservation of state institutions,” French Deputy Defense Minister Alice Rufo said during a handover ceremony at the port of Beirut on Tuesday.​​​​​

The armored vehicles, known as VABs, are designed to enhance troop mobility and enable operations in high-risk areas.

Each vehicle can carry about 10 fully equipped troops and is built with welded steel plates to protect against small-arms fire and shrapnel.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in late March that France would continue supporting Lebanon’s armed forces, including the delivery of armored personnel carriers, while stressing the need to protect the country’s “territorial integrity” and civilians.

The Israeli army has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

The current escalation followed the Feb. 28 start of a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran, which has since killed over 1,340 people.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with US military assets in Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries.