Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-14 01:42:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States has delivered the last four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the Lebanese army, the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon said Wednesday.

The delivery took place during a ceremony on Tuesday at Hamat Air Base in Lebanon's northern city of Batroun, in the presence of Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard.

In his speech, Aoun hailed the four new aircraft as a bolster to Lebanese army's combat capability.

The delivery "endorses the U.S. constant support for the Lebanese army in the fight against terrorism," as well as its "commitment and eagerness to preserve the stability of Lebanon," he said.

For her part, Richard described the delivery as "a game-changing acquisition that takes the Lebanese Armed Forces to the next level of combat capability."

The A-29 will allow the Lebanese army to conduct combined arms maneuvers in all conditions and greatly reduce the risk of collateral damage and the danger to civilians, she said.

The four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft are the last of the six the U.S. has delivered in its latest military aid package to Lebanon. The first two were delivered in October 2017.

Over the last decade, the United States has invested more than 1.5 billion dollars in training and equipping over 32,000 Lebanese troops.