Suleiman wants more military aid from U.S.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman arrived in Washington to ask U.S. officials for military assistance amid concerns over an armed Hezbollah militia.

Suleiman arrived during the weekend to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Lebanese president is expected to ask for more military assistance from Washington, reports the Lebanese news outlet Naharnet.

The United States is a key supporter for the Lebanese military, which is struggling to assert its dominant security position in the wake of the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Obama had asked lawmakers earlier in the year to consider increasing military aid to Lebanon by $98.4 million in 2009, bringing the total to $189.1 million.

Washington has supplied the Lebanese military with the Cessna Caravan combat air-support aircraft to support border-protection efforts.

The Caravan will work in coordination with 4.5-pound RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicles that U.S. military officials delivered in March for Lebanese counter-terrorist activities.

Washington fears any advanced military equipment may wind up in the hands of Hezbollah fighters, however.

A bilateral group of U.S. lawmakers last week expressed "serious" concern over the possibility Hezbollah, an Iranian ally, could launch attacks from southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah under the terms outlined by the new government in Beirut secured the right to maintain an armed resistance to deter an Israeli threat.