Lebanese and French naval forces conduct joint exercises

Lebanese and French naval forces conducted joint exercises in Lebanon Saturday, the National News Agency reported. The maneuvers were done in the air and on sea in conjunction with the French naval "Jeanne d’Arc Group." They acted out terrorist scenarios on the beach under the supervision of senior military officers. The participants also loaded heavy machinery onto a French ship and performed exercises with explosives. The meaneuvers were attended by senior Lebanese and French military officials, the French ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pieton, Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon Hillary Shields Adams, and Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Major General Paola Serra, as well as a number of military attaches. At the end of the maneuvers, head of the Lebanese Army Gen. Jean Kahwaji congratulated the participants on their coordination, promising that in the future similar exercises would be done.