Lebanon gets US aid for camp battle
US airplanes arrive in Beirut carrying equipment for fight against Fatah al-Islam.
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“From outside Lebanon it’s very easy to condemn the Lebanese army and government for what they are doing against Fatah-al-Islam” Rabih, Mansourieh El Metn, Lebanon |
The diplomat said the US would send eight airplanes carrying military equipment in total.
The AFP news agency reported that death toll in the fighting had risen to 78.
US aid
On Thursday, Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, gave her full backing to the Lebanese government.
“I certainly hope that the Lebanese government will be able to deal with these extremists,” Rice said.
“It’s just another example of extremists in the Middle East who are trying to destabilize democratic governments.”
The Lebanese An Nahar newspaper said that a first US airplane had arrived late on Thursday from Kuwait, with two from Egypt on Friday.
Late on Thursday, a United Arab Emirates air force airplane also arrived with supplies.
The Lebanese military did not comment on the airlift, a sensitive issue in the country.
The remainder will be coming from other Arab states where the US maintains weapons depots, it said.
The United States provided $40m in military aid to Lebanon last year and already this year has supplied hardware worth $5m.