The US State Department approved a possible sale to Lebanon of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft sustainment and related equipment for $100 million, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday.
The Super Tucano is a multimission aircraft that can be used for training and light attack.
The State Department approved the sale nearly a week after the US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, arrived in Lebanon for significant discussions.
Discussions for disarmament of Hezbollah
“A US envoy met Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday to discuss a proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah, hours after Israel launched new air strikes and a cross-border ground assault,” Reuters reported.
Lebanon was also expected to deliver a response last Monday to a recent United States document of demands, which included the complete disarmament of Hezbollah. The US also called for the advancement of economic reforms in Lebanon, as well as the regulation of Lebanon-Syria relations.
Barrack delivered his country's document of demands during his most recent visit to Lebanon last month.
Also last week, Hezbollah had a major strategic review in the wake of its war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely. It was considering turning over some weapons it has elsewhere in the country, notably missiles and drones seen as the biggest threat to Israel, on the condition Israel withdraws from the south and halts its attacks, sources said.
Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.