Lebanon Received 100 Military Vehicles from China

Lebanese defense forces have received 60 B80VJ and 40 Sinotruk Howo military vehicles as part of defense assistance from China. The B80VJ is a four-wheel vehicle developed by the Chinese auto firm Beijing Auto. It can carry out the tasks of a command vehicle, utility vehicle, and lightweight assault vehicle, and it’s expected to extend the mobility of the Lebanese Army. The vehicle can carry a machine gun or a lightweight launcher, but the 60 units sent to the Lebanese forces aren’t armed, a six-wheel-drive military tractor truck manufactured by Chinese company Sinotruk.

The vehicles won’t attend a selected brigade but rather be divided among various units to help in transportation and military training. Earlier this year, the United Kingdom had donated 100 armored patrol vehicles to the Lebanese soldiers (LAF) to reinforce its surveillance capabilities across the Syrian border. The delivery included Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (RWMIK) Land Rovers, which may operate the rugged Syrian border terrain and be equipped with heavy weapons. British soldiers have earlier used the RWMIKs for a spread of operations, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. LAF’s Land Border Regiments (LBRs) will use these armored vehicles on Lebanon’s border with Syria to stop extremists and smugglers from reaching Lebanon.

UK Minister for the soldiers James Heappey said: “The donation of those vehicles shows the UK’s desire to keep security and stability within the region. A stable border between Lebanon and Syria is thoroughly within the UK’s national interest. “We share a standard enemy in Daesh. The United Kingdom will still work closely with our partners within the region to kill the threat posed by terrorist groups.” In addition to delivering the vehicles, the United Kingdom deployed a specialist team from 16 Air Assault Brigades to provide an initial round of auto training.