Summary
Saudi Arabia has suspended two grants worth a combined total of $4 billion to the Lebanese Army and police over a political dispute, official Saudi news agency SPA reported Friday, dealing a major blow to the poorly-equipped security forces engaged in an open battle with militants.
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel revealed in a television interview later in the day that he had known about the Saudi decision for "a while".
The first grant, announced in December 2013 by then-President Michel Sleiman, would have allowed Lebanon to purchase $3 billion in French weapons and training for Lebanon's army.
The Saudi decision comes after Lebanon's Foreign Ministry refrained from endorsing joint statements issued last month at separate meetings held in Cairo and Jeddah accusing Iran of supporting terrorism.
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