Report: America transfers military funds from Egypt to Lebanon news

The White House is set to send $95 million to Lebanon, citing regional security, while taking into account human rights concerns in Egypt, Reuters reports.

The United States intends to transfer $95 million in military aid to Lebanon that was originally intended for Egypt, according to an unconfirmed news agency report.

Reuters reported on Monday that the State Department’s notification to Congress regarding the planned transition described the Lebanese Armed Forces as a “key partner” in preserving the November 27, 2024 agreement. The Israeli-Lebanese agreement Cease hostilities and prevent Hezbollah from threatening Israel.

This move comes after some of President Joe Biden’s fellow Democrats expressed deep concern about Egypt’s human rights record, especially the arrest of thousands of political prisoners.

The contents of the document remain unconfirmed. Neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Egyptian Embassy in Washington responded immediately to Reuters’ requests for comment.

In September, the US State Department’s digital bulletin said the Biden administration would override human rights conditions on military aid to Egypt to give Cairo a full allotment of $1.3 billion. The total amount included $95 million specifically linked to progress on the release of political prisoners.

The notice reportedly did not make it clear that the $95 million was specifically that money, but a congressional aide said he did not believe the amount was a coincidence.

Egypt has been a vital partner in the Biden administration’s efforts to deliver more aid to Gaza, and helped mediate so far unsuccessful efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The September decision to give money to Egypt sparked objections from within Congress, including from Democratic Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons, both ranking members of the Foreign Relations Committee, who issued a joint statement denouncing the decision.

According to the State Department document, funds will be provided to professionalize the Lebanese Armed Forces, enhance border security, combat terrorism, and address security requirements affected by the transition of power in Syria.

The notification stated, “The United States remains Lebanon’s preferred security partner, and American support for the Lebanese Army directly helps secure Lebanon and the broader Levant region.”

Enhance Lebanon Army It could also help ensure that Syria’s transition is not disrupted by the Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, which previously played a key role in supporting Assad during the Syrian civil war.

Under US law, Congress has 15 days to object to the reallocation of military aid, but a congressional aide familiar with the process commented that he expected lawmakers to welcome the administration’s transfer of funds to Lebanon.

“This is a way of saying: This is funding that Egypt doesn’t really deserve and doesn’t really need, let’s reprogram that and put it in a better place,” the aide told Reuters.