WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States is planning to donate old training aircraft to the Lebanese Air Force, bypassing restrictions on arms transfers to Lebanon, the US weekly Defense News reported.
An unnamed US diplomat in Beirut and a senior Lebanese military official told the weekly that "about three" TA-3 jets, the trainer version of the A-3 Skywarrior attack bomber, could be given to Beirut.
"For some reason, US policy does not permit providing Lebanon with offensive weapons, especially air power," the Lebanese official told the weekly.
"But there is no problem with providing Lebanon with trainers, and hence we have decided to go for this option as a start."
The Lebanese official said the air force wants trainers capable of carrying bombs and attacking ground targets.
"We hope this would be the first step before the US is ready to supply us with F-16s," the official added.
The Lebanese official said they were aware that the aircraft are old.
"But for us it would be better than nothing," the official said.
"Besides, the trainers would be given to the LAF more or less for free."
Defense News also said Lebanon was in discussions to acquire attack helicopters from the United States.
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