Lebanese Army receives six U.S. helicopters




BEIRUT: The U.S. delivered Wednesday six military helicopters to the Lebanese Army.

The U.S.-made Huey II military helicopters arrived at Beirut’s airport at 8 a.m. Wednesday on a U.S.-rented Russian cargo aircraft.

The all-purpose helicopters, coming from Texas, can accommodate 13 passengers with a carrying capacity of 11,200 pounds (5 tons).

Spare parts for the helicopters, which will stay at Rafik Hariri International Airport, were also among the shipment.

Officers from the Lebanese Air Force and American officials from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut were at the airport to receive the helicopters.

A diplomatic source told Reuters news agency that the helicopters were part of “bilateral military assistance” between Lebanon and the United States.

The Lebanese Air Force has 24 Huey helicopters and 11 French-made Gazelles, both of which can be equipped with guns and missiles. With Reuters
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