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Iran says ready to provide aid to Lebanese military to combat 'terrorists'

Associated Press
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Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, left, shakes hands with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani at his office in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Moqbel also met other Iranian officials including Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. "Iran is ready to transfer its experience in order to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and to combat terrorists," Shamkhani said during a meeting with Moqbel in Tehran on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) (The Associated Press)

Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel meets with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani at his office in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Moqbel also met other Iranian officials including Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. "Iran is ready to transfer its experience in order to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and to combat terrorists," Shamkhani said during a meeting with Moqbel in Tehran on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) (The Associated Press)

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani meets with Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel at his office in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Moqbel also met other Iranian officials including Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. "Iran is ready to transfer its experience in order to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and to combat terrorists," Shamkhani said during a meeting with Moqbel in Tehran on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) (The Associated Press)

Iran says it is ready to provide aid to the Lebanese army as well as the Shiite Hezbollah group to help combat "terrorists."

Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was quoted by state TV as saying that "supporting the Lebanese nation, army and resistance will still remain on Iran's agenda." Hezbollah's allies refer to it as the "resistance" because of its stated mission of driving Israel out of occupied territory.

"Iran is ready to transfer its experience in order to improve security in Lebanon and the region, and to combat terrorists," he said during a meeting with Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel in Tehran on Sunday.

Iran is a main backer of Hezbollah, which is widely seen as being more powerful than the Lebanese army.