Lebanon Army Offers Tourists Helicopter Joyrides

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun at a handover ceremony of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft given by the US, June 12, 2018. (AFP)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun at a handover ceremony of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft given by the US, June 12, 2018. (AFP)
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Lebanon Army Offers Tourists Helicopter Joyrides

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun at a handover ceremony of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft given by the US, June 12, 2018. (AFP)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun at a handover ceremony of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft given by the US, June 12, 2018. (AFP)

The Lebanese army will start offering tourists helicopter joyrides this week in a bid to boost the coffers of one of the crisis-hit country’s key institutions.

An economic crisis that the World Bank describes as likely one of the world’s worst since the 1850s has hit the Lebanese military hard, leaving it struggling to pay troops enough to live on.

In an announcement on its website, the army said it would be offering civilians the chance to see “Lebanon... from above” with 15-minute flights.

The joyrides on board the army’s Robinson R44 Raven helicopters would start on Thursday and would be open to passengers aged three and above, AFP reported.

Up to three people would be allowed aboard per flight, which costs about $150 and is to be paid in cash.

The aim is “to encourage Lebanese tourism in a new way, in addition to supporting the air force,” a military source told AFP.

The economic crisis has eaten away at the value of soldiers’ salaries and slashed the military’s budget for maintenance and equipment.

Toward the middle of last year, the army said it had scrapped meat from the meals offered to on-duty soldiers, due to rising food prices.

Lebanon has been without a functioning government since a massive blast in Beirut in August last year killed more than 200 people and ravaged swathes of the Mediterranean port city.

Politicians have failed to agree on a new cabinet line-up even as foreign currency cash reserves plummet, causing fuel, electricity and medicine shortages.

Earlier this month, France hosted a donor conference at which 20 nations agreed to provide emergency aid to Lebanon’s military.



Arabian Horse Lovers Gather for Qassim Championship in Saudi Arabia

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
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Arabian Horse Lovers Gather for Qassim Championship in Saudi Arabia

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)
Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds. (SPA)

The third Qassim Arabian Horse Show, a three-day championship in Saudi Arabia featuring 260 purebred Arabian horses, is currently underway and has attracted significant participation from enthusiasts and horse lovers, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Renowned for their distinctive beauty, purebred Arabian horses possess a small, refined head, expressive eyes, an elegant arched neck, and a high-set tail, setting them apart from other breeds.

Horses have long held a vital place in Arab culture, serving as crucial support in warfare, transportation, and livelihoods since ancient times. Beyond their practical uses, horses are cherished and treated with exceptional care, becoming potent symbols of pride and dignity, particularly within the Kingdom.

The allure of the Arabian horse has endured through time. Today, these magnificent creatures compete in local and international races, nurtured in premier farms and stables, and deeply admired by horse aficionados and owners worldwide.