Lebanon gets Raven mini UAV from U.S.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 23 (UPI) -- The Lebanese military received a shipment at a Beirut port Monday of U.S.-manufactured reconnaissance vehicles as part of a Washington aid package.

Lebanese army Cmdr. Gen. Jean Qahwaji secured a military aid package from the United States during a visit to Washington in February. Washington pledged to provide the Lebanese military with the 4.5-pound RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicle for Lebanese counterterrorist activities, the Naharnet news agency reports.

The highly portable Raven won praises as a reconnaissance vehicle in Iraq, as its 38-inch wingspan offers it a distinct versatility.

A statement released Monday by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, though not mentioning the Raven, said the United States maintains its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"The overall goal of U.S. military assistance to Lebanon is to strengthen the LAF and increase its capacity to defend Lebanon's territory," the statement said.

The embassy added that the Lebanese military has received more than $410 million in equipment and training from the United States since 2006.

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