BEIRUT: French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton denied media reports Monday that France has decided to halt military assistance to the Lebanese Army.

“France will continue supporting the Lebanese Army,” Pietton told reporters after meeting Environment Minister Nazem Khoury. Last week, Al-Hayat newspaper, quoting French sources, said an agreement to send French anti-tank missiles to the Lebanese Army, hammered out under the government of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, had been put on ice while Paris monitors the work of the new Cabinet.

Pietton, whose country has troops serving with UNIFIL, said he was not worried about the peacekeeping force’s work. “These forces have been playing an important role in achieving stability in the region since 2006,” he said.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the work of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Pietton said, “Until now, I don’t have a comment. The indictment has been referred to the Lebanese judiciary and we are waiting to see what will happen.”