Lebanon's defence minister on Saturday started a three-day visit to Tehran for talks expected to culminate in him securing military equipment to bolster Beirut's fight against jihadists. Samir Moqbel's visit comes two weeks after Iran vowed to supply Lebanon's army with much-needed equipment following its deadly clashes with fighters from IS and al Qaeda affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, on the Syrian border in August.
Moqbel will meet his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan to discuss how to improve military co-operation and combat regional security challenges, Fars news agency reported At the end of his visit, the Lebanese minister is due to return with Iran's military aid to his country, the report said. Meetings with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani are also scheduled, according to Fars. Iran's offer of military support - made when Shamkhani visited Beirut last month - followed aid packages for Lebanon's army from Tehran's regional rival Riyadh as well as from Washington.
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