Aoun told Al Araby Al Jadeed that he asked Sheikh Tamim to assist Lebanon in matters related to oil and the salaries of the military personnel on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March.

Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani reaffirmed his support for Lebanon during his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Amiri Diwan in Doha on Wednesday.

“We reviewed ways to further develop the strong and longstanding relations between our two brotherly countries and peoples,” Sheikh Tamim said on X. “Qatar remains committed to standing by Lebanon and its brotherly people, supporting them in their aspirations for recovery, prosperity and sustainable development,” he added.

The Lebanese president had arrived in Doha on Tuesday, marking his first official visit to the country since becoming Lebanon’s president in January. Aoun, who previously served as Lebanon’s army chief, was elected in a parliament session following a two-year power vacuum.

According to the Lebanese presidency, Sheikh Tamim stressed that Qatar is ready to provide Lebanon “with all that it needs in the fields of electricity, energy and any other sector in addition to continuing to support the army”.

The discussions between both leaders also dealt with Israel’s ongoing violations of the November 27 ceasefire deal in Lebanon. Aoun noted that “the Lebanese Army is fully performing its duties in southern Lebanon in implementation of Resolution 1701”.

“But the continued Israeli occupation is hindering the army’s full deployment, especially in light of the repeated attacks, as happened today,” Aoun said, as cited by the Lebanese Presidency.

The fragile ceasefire came after Israel’s brutal aggression on the country that has killed more than 4,000 people.

Israel has since violated the deal by continuing its attacks on the south while refusing to completely pull out its forces from Lebanon. On March 28, Israel launched the first attack on the capital Beirut since the deal came into effect.

Qatar’s support for Lebanon

The Gulf state has been at the forefront of the countries supporting Lebanon throughout its economic crisis and times of hardship, including the 2006 Israeli war, 2020 Beirut Port explosion and Israel’s latest aggression on the country.

Qatar has also continuously backed Lebanon’s army under its wider efforts to support the country’s institutions amid its worsening economic crisis.

Aoun told Al Araby Al Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic platform, on Tuesday that he asked Sheikh Tamim to assist Lebanon in matters related to oil and the salaries of the military personnel on the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Cairo in March.

“His [Sheikh Tamim’s] response was ‘consider it done’,” Aoun said, as quoted by the news outlet.

“Military equipment will soon arrive for the benefit of the Lebanese Army, with Qatar covering its cost, which amounts to around $10m. Of course, we do not forget the slogan ‘thank you, Qatar’ as we remain hopeful for continued goodwill from them,” he added.

Aoun was referring to a slogan repeated by the Lebanese population ever since Qatar led reconstruction efforts in Lebanon following Israel’s war on the country in 2006.

Meanwhile, in February, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, voiced the Gulf state’s support for Lebanon’s reconstruction following Israel’s latest aggression on the country.

Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks had come during his visit to Beirut.