French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived here on Sunday to oversee the first shipment of weapons to the Lebanese army as part of a deal with Saudi Arabia that was reached in 2014.

He will oversee the first shipment of arms and hold a series of meetings with a number of officials, including Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

Saudi Arabia and France inked the weapons deal worth $3 billion in Riyadh in November.

It also includes training programs for the Lebanese army run by the French military.

It aims to boost Lebanon's military as it struggles to contain the rising tide of violence linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria.