BEIRUT, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman has said that his army units would be supplied with modern weapons and equipment to cope with its new missions in southern Lebanon, the army headquarters said Friday in a statement.

    Suleiman, accompanied by top army officers on board a helicopter, made the remarks on Thursday when he inspected army positions in different locations in the south and flew over the UN-drawn blue line, said the statement.

    According to the statement, the commander pledged to supply the army with modern weapons and equipment to match the needs of their new missions.

    He also told the troops that the Lebanese people were counting on them during this crucial period, added the statement.

    Lebanon's Ministerial Council adopted a resolution providing that 15,000 Lebanese soldiers be sent to the south in accordance to the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 calling for an end to the 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

    Afterwards, the Lebanese army started deploying in the country's south extending from the Litani River until the Lebanese-Israeli borders on Aug. 17. Enditem