Greece’s Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, has confirmed that the country will be sending a shipment of armored vehicles to Lebanon, following discussions with Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa in Athens. This initiative underscores Greece’s commitment to bolstering Lebanon’s stability and defense capabilities.
The Greek Reporter detailed that a tank landing ship is set to transport the armored and transport vehicles to Beirut soon. Dendias emphasized that this transfer is part of Greece’s broader support for Lebanon, which also includes training for Lebanese Armed Forces officers at Greek military institutions.
He further highlighted Greece’s role in advocating for the renewal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate during its tenure on the UN Security Council. UNIFIL collaborates with the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain the ceasefire established last November between Israel and Hezbollah. Greece currently contributes a frigate to this mission and is prepared to extend its deployment at the request of the Lebanese government.
This announcement comes amid escalating tensions in Lebanon, particularly concerning its ongoing conflict with Israel. Despite the ceasefire that ended a year-long hostilities following the Gaza war and a brief conflict in Lebanon, Israel has reportedly continued to conduct airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions. Recently, UNIFIL reported incidents where Israeli forces fired at peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, raising concerns about adherence to the ceasefire agreement that required Israeli withdrawal from the area.
In light of these developments, the Lebanese government is moving towards ensuring that all weapons are under state control. In August, the Lebanese army was directed to devise a plan to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end, amid pressures from the United States and persistent Israeli military actions.
