France will send dozens of armoured vehicles to the Lebanese army so it can properly carry out patrol missions in the country, France’s defence minister has remarked, Reuters reports.

Speaking to Lebanon’s L’Orient Le Jour newspaper after a trip to the country, Sebastien Lecornu said it was vital to beef up the Lebanese national army so that it could coordinate well with the United Nations peacekeeping force as tensions mount between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“We will pursue our partnership with military equipment, notably for the transport of troops protected by armour, which is key to maintaining patrols,” he said, adding that several dozen armoured vehicles would be given to the Lebanese army soon.

“Our support for the Lebanese army is for the long-term whatever the current difficulties,” Lecornu added.

France has sought to use its historical relationship with Lebanon to try to defuse tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, but violence has spiked. Lebanese leaders fear clashes between Hezbollah and Israel could flare into a major conflict.